Over a 100 million people are expected to watch Super Bowl 51. It’s an economic win for the NFL and the city of Houston. It’s also a huge financial gain for advertisers, every take-out and delivery restaurant, bars with big screen televisions, as well as snack, liquor, and beverage distributors throughout the country.
Super Bowl Sunday is a close second to Thanksgiving when it comes eating. The National Chicken Council reports an estimated 1.33 billion chicken wings will be consumed during the Super Bowl. In previous years, Domino’s Pizza sold more than 11 million slices of pizza on the big game day. According to the Nielson Company, viewership of Super Bowl 50 averaged 111.9 million viewers. It’s one of the biggest events for friends and family to come together besides the holidays.
So, if everyone else is benefitting from the big event, why can’t we enjoy it too by using it to spark a movement to help others? The NFL and the Super Bowl Host Committee are doing their part with a number of community events organized to provide support to those in need. In addition, throughout the season, the National Football League’s Taste of NFL asks fans to raise money in a variety of ways to increase awareness and dollars to help fight hunger in their community.
Their Kick Hunger Challenge motivates fans from all NFL teams to compete against each other all season by raising money online for food banks in NFL communities around the country. The funds raised will directly impact the donation of thousands of meals to food banks in each team’s community. The Houston Food Bank (HFB), a NobleCause grantee, will receive 100% of the funds raised by Houston Texans fans. HFB partners with 600 agencies to distribute 79,000,000 nutritious meals to 800,000 individuals each year across an 18-county service area. It’s simple to make donations online in the name of your favorite NFL team. Check it out to see if your team is in the Top 10.
In addition to the Kick Hunger Campaign, the NFL hosts Party with a Purpose®, a food and wine event in the host city the Saturday before the Super Bowl. Chefs from each NFL city provide food and wine pairings for guests to sample. Proceeds from the event also benefit food banks in each of the NFL cities.
So, if the NFL can have a party with a purpose – why can’t we? If you’re planning a Super Bowl party, why not encourage your guests to bring a couple of cans or boxes of non perishables to donate to your local food bank? Or ask them to bring gently used clothing, coats, hats, and gloves to donate to your local shelter.
Are you a member of a club or service organization at your college or high school? How about a friendly competition? Start a buzz on social media and compete against each other to raise money or donate cans of food for your local food pantry. One of the easiest ways to find your nearest emergency feeding program is to call 311 or the Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3Hungry. You can also go to Feeding America to search for a food bank in your area.
Did you know that almost 50 million people in the U.S., including about 17 million children, lack access to adequate food? A $10 dollar donation can buy 80 meals. $25 can provide 200 meals! Even the smallest donations add up and can make a huge difference for families in need. Just imagine if every one of the over 111 million viewers donated $10 to their local food bank or donated a can of food at their Super Bowl party.
Or, better yet, what if we decided that the weekend after the Super Bowl (the first weekend without football!), we could get together with friends and family and volunteer our time at a local community organization? It might not be as big of an economic impact like the Super Bowl, but it would be a positive one.
How will you watch the Super Bowl this year? Join in the excitement. Support your favorite team and your community! It’s a win-win!
Want to locate service opportunities in your area? NobleHour can help you find, manage, and engage a community of volunteers. It’s perfect for schools, nonprofits, and businesses wanting to make a difference in their community.
Since 2007, NobleHour has proven to be the volunteer management solution for organizations across the nation. With its robust online platform, NobleHour enhances community engagement with a variety of innovative and transformative tools for finding, tracking, and measuring volunteer, service‐learning, and community service initiatives. With offices in Lakeland, FL, and Portland, OR, the NobleHour team is dedicated to empowering good in communities across the country.
By NobleHour Special Contributor:
Dolly Duplantier
Consultant, NobleHour
Contributing Writer / Blogger
Public Relations and Communications
Greater Chicago Area
Dolly Duplantier is a freelance writer, editor, and social media specialist. She is the mother of three children, one college graduate, one in college, and one in high school. Writing about people and organizations making a difference is one of the best aspects of her job!
