In Minneapolis we are Hunger Heroes

 

In 1992 Minneapolis hosted the Super Bowl.  I think we were the joke of the sports world at the time.  After all, don't those who attend these events want warm weather?  Marilyn Carlson, daughter of Curt Carlson, founder of Radisson Corporation and more, convinced the NFL to allow the Super Bowl to be in Minneapolis.  Yes, it was nice and cold for those attending and we had snow.  We had people snow mobiling and ice fishing, taking pictures of themselves in parkas, and sending it all home saying they had survived the Super Bowl in Minneapolis. 

Planners were in need of creating events that would entertain people yet be inside and warm.  What was born was the Taste of the NFL.  Twenty-eight chefs from around the country, one for each NFL city, served up their specialties alongside an alumni player from each of the NFL teams.  All were volunteers.  The event was sold out and raised $90,000 with all proceeds going to local and national hunger organizations. 

This Taste of the NFL continues  today and is held in the Super Bowl city the night before the Super bowl.  This year the Barenaked Ladies will perform at the Taste of the NFL in Florida.  (It might feel like Minneapolis there this year!) More than  $6.8 million has been raised and distributed to hunger-relief groups since 1992.

The core of the Taste of the NFL team is a group of Minnesota-based volunteers and businesses that have built Taste of the NFL into a valuable brand to use in the fund-raising efforts for hunger relief.  This fund raiser is held in about 37 communities in the United States.  You can bet in Minneapolis we still make it a big thing.  At the Mall of America today they are accepting pledges for people to give all year long for hunger-relief.  Right now Cub Foods is matching those pledges. 

This idea that started in Minneapolis has grown to assist hunger throughout the United States.  It is one example of the caring that happens here in Minneapolis and the state of Minnesota.  Go ahead and tell jokes about us.  That laughter is what fuels are creativity for caring.