Young People to Lead Fight Against Hunger and Poverty Super Bowl Weekend
January 15, 2009
COLUMBIA, SC – January 14, 2009 – As football fans turn their attention to Super Bowl XLIII Feb. 1, over a quarter of a million Souper Bowl of Caring players are working to transform Super Bowl weekend into the nation’s largest youth-led weekend of giving and serving.
Souper Bowl of Caring started with one church youth group in South Carolina in 1990 when a minister prayed, Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those without even a bowl of soup to eat. Since 1990, the Souper Bowl of Caring has raised, one dollar at a time, more than $50 million for charities across the country.
Souper Bowl of Caring youth have set a standard for compassion and service that we all can admire, Rev. Dr. Brad Smith, Founder and Executive Director, said. Now, people from every walk of life are catching the spirit and becoming part of this effort. Brownie Scouts, schools, hardware stores and food retailers are all joining the team.
More than 16,000 organizations have signed up to participate in the 20th year of this nationwide effort of giving and serving. Every dollar or food item collected goes directly to a charity the local group selects. No collected funds are used to support the Souper Bowl of Caring administration.
Melissa Daigneault, Odessa, FL, is a veteran Souper Bowl of Caring Pot Holder and member of the group’s National Youth Advisory Board. She has also volunteered for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, managing fan mail and serving on the Student Advisory Board.
Souper Bowl of Caring is simple, yet so significant. The gift is only $1; everyone can participate, said Daigneault. It’s easy: just register at www.souperbowl.org, collect donations in soup pots, report your results to Souper Bowl of Caring and donate 100% to an organization in your community that directly helps those in need.
Imagine the impact we could make if the 140 million fans who watch the game gave just $1 each to help hungry and hurting people, Daigneault said.
