The Story

The Super Bowl came to Minneapolis in 1992. While there was certainly no shortage of events, activities and festivities from which to choose, one event stood out above them all. And it is still going…

Taste of the NFL was born at Super Bowl XXVI. The Party with a Purpose® was launched through the hard work and dedication of hundreds of volunteers. Twenty-eight of the finest chefs from around the country, one from each NFL city, served up their specialties alongside an alumni player from each of the NFL teams. All volunteer, all heart.

The sold-out event that year raised $90,000, with all of the proceeds going to local and national hunger organizations. It was the highest net fundraiser at Super Bowl XXVI. For each of the last 16 years, Taste of the NFL has been presented on the eve of the Super Bowl in each of the Super Bowl cities, continuing the Minnesota-born tradition. More than $6.8 million has been raised and distributed to hunger-relief groups since 1992. In 2004 in Houston, the event raised a record $820,000 donation for the cause in one night and made it possible for Taste of the NFL donations to be made to America’s Second Harvest food banks in each of the NFL cities in the name of that city’s NFL team. 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. It also has become a premier event of Super Bowl weekend. Thousands of hours are logged by the Minnesota connection, as well as by a network of national volunteers and coordinators, to continue the growth of the event and to provide hope for those in need.

Millions of needs, thousands of families and dozens of new hunger projects and contacts have been affected by this major volunteer effort. The goal is to end hunger, and the team is dedicated to achieving that goal, community by community, using national success to jump-start local action.

Mission Statement

To address the needs of the hungry and homeless by raising awareness
and money through special events and programs.