Taste of the Draft to Deliver Community Impact for Western Pennsylvania Children
Taste of the Draft to Deliver Community Impact for Western Pennsylvania Children |
| [15-December-2025] |
GENYOUth, the NFL, Pittsburgh Steelers, VisitPITTSBURGH, PNC Bank, Pittsburgh Public Schools Announce Community Impact Initiative to Support Student Nutrition, Physical Activity PITTSBURGH, Dec. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- GENYOUth, the national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping schoolchildren live well-nourished and physically active lives, joined Pittsburgh Allegheny 6-8, purpose-driven partners and Steelers great Maurkice Pouncey today to kick off a major community impact initiative aligned with the 2026 NFL Draft. The effort will help tackle student food insecurity and expand opportunities for physical activity for children across Western Pennsylvania.
At the heart of this initiative is Taste of the Draft, GENYOUth's signature culinary and gridiron fundraising event, which will take place Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at The Tower at PNC Plaza in Pittsburgh. Presented by PNC Bank and held on the eve of the NFL Draft, Taste of the Draft will fund grants for school nutrition equipment and NFL FLAG-In-School kits for 91 Pennsylvania schools – a tribute to the 91st anniversary of the NFL Draft. Community Kickoff Celebrates Students and Announces Grant Opportunities Today's announcement brought together more than 150 students at Pittsburgh Allegheny 6-8 with NFL Vice President of Corporate Social Responsibility Clare Graff, Pittsburgh Steelers Vice President of Business Development and Strategy Dan Rooney, Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Wayne N. Walters, VisitPITTSBURGH President and CEO Jerad Bachar, Steelers great Maurkice Pouncy with Steelers mascot Steely McBeam, GENYOUth CEO Ann Marie Krautheim, PNC Bank Head of Regional Presidents Lou Cestello, and other community leaders and VIP guests. The celebration featured a ribbon-cutting ceremony for new state-of-the-art school meal equipment and the news that Western Pennsylvania schools may now sign up to be notified when applications open for GENYOUth's school nutrition equipment grants. Guests also joined a hands-on food packing event to support local families and sampled signature "best bites" from Pittsburgh restaurants Primanti Bros and Original Oyster House – offering an early taste of what's to come at Taste of the Draft. The event continued with an NFL FLAG-In-School flag football clinic led by Pittsburgh Allegheny 6-8 PE staff, Pittsburgh Public Schools high school football players and Steelers youth football staff. Students experienced firsthand how nutritious school meals and regular physical activity work together to fuel stronger bodies and minds – supporting their health, well-being, and academic success. Taste of the Draft: Fueling Grants That Benefit Student Well-being The Taste of the Draft Community Impact initiative is made possible through the leadership of presenting sponsor PNC Bank, along with support from NFL Extra Points Visa® Credit Card, the Dick's Sporting Goods Foundation, Peoples Gas, American Dairy Association North East, Turner's Dairy and Coen Markets. Together, these partners will help expand access to approximately 13.5 million school meals annually, benefiting 50,000 students throughout Western Pennsylvania, with a particular focus on school serving at-risk communities in Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, Westmoreland and Allegheny counties. Beginning February 2026, Western Pennsylvania schools may apply for equipment packages designed to increase access to healthy school meals – including milk, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. Equipment will include Grab and Go meal carts, insulated milk merchandisers, and other tools that allow schools to bring meals directly to students in hallways and classrooms, reducing barriers and increasing participation. Each selected school will also receive an NFL FLAG-In-School kit, expanding fun, inclusive opportunities for students to be active through flag football. Schools can visit www.GENYOUthnow.org to learn more and sign up to receive notifications when applications open. Leaders Applaud Pittsburgh's Commitment to Kids "As Pittsburgh gears up for the 2026 NFL Draft, we are excited to celebrate Western Pennsylvania's rich football legacy and incredible culinary heritage at Taste of the Draft," said Anna Isaacson, NFL Senior Vice President of Social Responsibility and GENYOUth Board Member. "By bringing together the community in support of GENYOUth's mission to empower youth to lead active lifestyles, we're helping to create lasting change for kids across the region." "One in five children in Southwestern Pennsylvania faces food insecurity¹, and fewer than one in four children nationwide get the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity," said Ann Marie Krautheim, M.A., R.D., L.D., CEO of GENYOUth. "Schools can help close that gap. Our mission is simple yet vital: to ensure children learn, grow, and thrive. I'm deeply grateful to our purpose-driven partners whose commitment is helping us create healthier futures for students." "We are excited to host today's celebration at Pittsburgh Allegheny 6-8," said Dr. Wayne N. Walters,Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent. "When the community comes together on behalf of our children, we remove barriers and ensure they receive the nutrition, physical activity, and support they need to thrive academically and beyond. We are deeply grateful to GENYOUth and to purpose-drive partners like Dick's Sporting Good Foundation for their generosity. Today's additional $10,000 grant is an investment in our students' health, wellness, and future, and we appreciate their continued commitment to Pittsburgh's young people." "The Pittsburgh Steelers are proud to participate in today's kick-off event, and to be part of these efforts to empower our youth by focusing on their health and wellness. It takes teamwork to make a difference in the lives of children, and I thank GENYOUth, the NFL, PNC Bank, and our other corporate sponsors for joining the Steelers and Visit Pittsburgh in making a positive difference in the well-being of Western Pennsylvania youth," added Dan Rooney, Vice President of Business Development and Strategy, Pittsburgh Steelers. "VisitPITTSBURGH is proud to support Taste of the Draft. This event not only celebrates the flavors of Pittsburgh, it reflects our collective commitment to uplifting the children and families who make our community strong," said Jerad Bachar, President & CEO of VisitPITTSBURGH. "As we prepare to welcome the NFL Draft to Pittsburgh, it's inspiring to see partners come together with purpose and a shared desire to do good. Taste of the Draft is a powerful reminder of what makes this community so special – and why Pittsburgh continues to set up, time and time again." Added Lou Cestello, Head of Regional Presidents, PNC, "PNC Bank is honored to serve as the presenting sponsor of GENYOUth's Taste of the Draft. On behalf of our PNC associates and their families, we applaud the commitment to award school nutrition grants to 91 Pennsylvania schools, starting today with Allegheny Traditional Academy. We know the future is bright for the children of our community." "As a Pittsburgh Steeler alumni and lifelong athlete, I know the critical role school nutrition and physical activity plays in the lives of students. By helping ensure students have access to school meals and physical activity programs, these are the building block to help them be their personal best, said Pittsburgh Steelers Legend Maurkice Pouncey. Tickets for Taste of the Draft are available at tasteofthenfl.com/taste-of-the-draft-2025/. In January 2026 VISITPittsburgh will be issue an invitation for members of the Pittsburgh culinary community to explore the opportunity to participate in Taste of the Draft. ¹ Feeding America, May 2025 About GENYOUth About Pittsburgh Steelers About VisitPITTSBURGH About The NFL Foundation About NFL FLAG About Pittsburgh Public Schools About PNC Bank
SOURCE GENYOUth | ||
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