Allstate Sugar Bowl donates $250,000 to local charities

Bowl Contributions Aim to Assist Community in Hurricane Ida Recovery

NEW ORLEANS (December 24, 2021) – The Sugar Bowl Committee, which has been a part of the fabric of New Orleans since the organization’s inception in 1934, has made $250,000 in donations to support its local community as the region continues to recover from Hurricane Ida.

On October 28, the Bowl contributed $125,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank and then on December 22, it presented another check for $125,000 to New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. In addition to its role as a leader in hosting and sponsoring amateur sporting events, throughout its history, the Allstate Sugar Bowl has donated significant funds to regional organizations in times of need.

“Unfortunately, we live in an area with extreme weather events like Hurricane Ida earlier this year. But fortunately, we have great people in New Orleans and the surrounding communities that are ready and willing to step up and help a neighbor,” Sugar Bowl President Ralph Capitelli said on Wednesday. “Habitat for Humanity coordinates a major part of that work and serves as a beacon of hope for so many. The Sugar Bowl Committee is honored to be able to support the efforts of this inspirational organization, and we hope this contribution will parlay that hope during this holiday season.”

New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity follows a mission to responsibly build communities where families can thrive, in homes they can afford. Founded in 1983, NOAHH has provided a path to homeownership for over 630 families. Habitat homebuyers pay a zero-interest mortgage and work 250 volunteer hours of sweat equity in lieu of a down payment.

“We are thrilled with the generous and that Allstate Sugar Bowl recognizes the need for continued Hurricane Ida recovery work and the ongoing important of affordable home ownership,” said Marguerite Oestreicher, Executive Director of New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity, following the December 22 donation.

“Though our primary mission is to drive tourism through amateur athletics, the Sugar Bowl also has a deep history of stepping up in aid of the community,” said Capitelli. “After Katrina, the Bowl helped fund major repairs to Tad Gormley and committed millions of dollars, along with Nike and Drew Brees, to build and repair facilities at Joe Brown Park. Over the past six years we’ve worked with the CFP Foundation to contribute right at $3 million to support local teachers. And in the last 18 months, we donated a half million dollars to organizations coming to the aid of out-of-work hospitality workers when COVID first hit.”

Second Harvest Food Bank is the largest charitable anti-hunger network in South Louisiana. Its mission is to end hunger by providing food, access, advocacy, education and disaster response. Second Harvest Food Bank provides food access, advocacy, education, and disaster response. The organization provides food and support to 700+ community partners and programs across 23 parishes. Its staff and volunteers distribute the equivalent of more than 32 million meals to more than 210,000 people a year.

“We are so grateful and so privileged to do the work we do at Second Harvest,” said Natalie Jayroe, President and CEO of Second Harvest. “We feel like we’re the conduit for the community’s generosity, to make good things happen for South Louisiana. No one inspires us more than the Sugar Bowl Committee. This gift of $125,000 represents a half a million meals. We hear stories of people living in tents; it’s going to be a very long road for people recovering from Hurricane Ida, but it’s people like Mr. Capitelli and the Sugar Bowl Committee that make it possible for us. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

“Second Harvest has demonstrated over time that they are good stewards of the donations they receive,” said Capitelli. “Their proven track record of helping people with the most basic of needs, is well established and certainly commendable.”

The Sugar Bowl, which was formed in 1934 as the Midwinter Sports Association, has become a part of the very fabric of New Orleans. From its inception, the mission of the Sugar Bowl has been to support the community by driving tourism and generating economic impact. In the last decade, the Bowl has been responsible for over $2.5 billion of economic impact for the region.

In addition to the Allstate Sugar Bowl football game every New Year’s Day, the Sugar Bowl is responsible for many other events throughout the year – the Bowl has hosted or sponsored over 500 events in the last decade. The Sugar Bowl also works with the city and other local organizations to secure major events for New Orleans – events like the NCAA Men’s and Women’s Final Four and the College Football Playoff National Championship that the city hosted in January of 2020. The Sugar Bowl donated $5.6 million of its money to ensure that Louisiana had the opportunity to host that tremendously successful event.

The Allstate Sugar Bowl has established itself as one of the premier college football bowl games, having hosted 28 national champions, 99 Hall of Fame players, 51 Hall of Fame coaches and 20 Heisman Trophy winners in its 87-year history. In addition to football, the Sugar Bowl Committee annually invests over $1 million into the community through the hosting and sponsorship of sporting events, awards, scholarships and clinics. Through these efforts, the organization supports and honors thousands of student-athletes each year, while injecting over $2.5 billion into the local economy in the last decade. For more information, visit www.AllstateSugarBowl.org.