Hunger-relief Charities Score Big Across the Country
$9.6 Million Collected through Souper Bowl of Caring
Report at TackleHunger.org or 800.358.SOUP (7687)
April 1, 2019 (Houston, TX) - The annual Souper Bowl of Caring campaign has generated over $9.6 million in cash and food items for hunger-relief charities across the country with reports still coming in. Each year thousands of youth groups, churches, schools, local businesses and groceries stores, with support from NFL teams, participate by giving and serving in their local communities in the weeks and days leading up to the big game. 100% of each collection is donated directly to each group's charity of choice. The timing of the campaign comes at a time when food banks, soup kitchens, food pantries have experienced a decrease in food and funding after the busy holiday season. "Souper Bowl of Caring is one of our biggest community food drives," said Brian Greene, President and CEO of the Houston Food Bank, "and one of the most touching because it is powered in large part by young people working together to tackle hunger."
In 1990, a simple prayer, "Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those who are without a bowl of soup to eat" launched a national youth-led, grass-roots movement. Souper Bowl of Caring will celebrate its 30th anniversary in conjunction with Super Bowl LIV in 2020. "It is a sacred gift to have watched the Souper Bowl of Caring grow from a line of a prayer and a single church youth group, to a movement that has generated $150 million for soup kitchens and food banks across America," said Brad Smith, founder of Super Bowl of Caring. "We are grateful to God, and to the wonderful team of congregations, businesses and schools that continue to put the words of that prayer into action by mobilizing ordinary people to do extraordinary good."
Participating groups are encouraged to report their 2019 collection at TackleHunger.org or by calling 800-358-SOUP (7687) to count towards the national goal of $10 million in cash and food donations. Registration is now open for the 2020 Souper Bowl of Caring campaign, in which participants receive complimentary resources and communications to help guide and execute their collection. 100% of all donations go directly to each group's designated charity of choice.
About Souper Bowl of Caring
Souper Bowl of Caring is a national youth-led movement of schools, congregations, community organizations and compassionate individuals joining together to fight hunger and poverty in their local communities, transforming the time around the Super Bowl into the nation's largest celebration of giving and serving. Since the program began in 1990, more than $150 million in dollars and food items have been collected through Souper Bowl of Caring across the United States with 100% of all donations going directly to community food banks, soup kitchens or other charities chosen by each group.For more information visit TackleHunger.org or connect with Souper Bowl of Caring on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
