Over 400 people gathered together at Globe Garden, just outside of the Universal Studios Hollywood lot, for the annual event Taste of the Rams, raising over $150,000 on Monday, Nov. 18.
Food vendors, corporate sponsors, football fans, and community staples showed up in an effort to raise funds to benefit the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, one of the top non-profits in Southern California.
The event featured an auction with famous memorabilia from some of the sports industry’s top athletes. Upon entry, attendees had the option to purchase Taste of the Rams footballs to be signed by some of the LA Rams. To date, Taste of the Rams has raised $650,000, which equates to 2.5 million meals.
“The fourth annual Taste of the Rams event was a tremendous success,” said Michael Flood, President and CEO of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. “We are grateful for Don Lee Farms and our other sponsors, as well as the support of Todd Gurley II and the Los Angeles Rams. We are also grateful to the amazing Chefs who participated, and to the wonderful people who attended the event.”
The affair was attended by LA Rams football players Todd Gurley II, Landis Durham, Josh Reynolds, Austin Corbett and Dakota Allen. Also in attendance, Rams mascot Rampage and the Los Angeles Rams cheerleaders.
Andrew Siciliano, the host of NFL RedZone on the NFL Network, was the Master of Ceremonies. Gurley was the Honorary Chair of the night for the third consecutive year.
“It’s a good feeling, putting smiles on other peoples’ faces and just doing it out of the kindness of your heart,” said Gurley.
Chef Steve Samson of Rossoblu and Superfine Pizza has attended every Taste of the Rams event since its inception.
“Like many of the other chefs who made this night possible, I have a passion for feeding people,” Chef Steve Samson said. “As a father, it hurts to know that there are so many families with children in our community who don’t know how they are going to feed themselves.”
The event was sponsored by Don Lee Farms. Other contributing sponsors included International Paper, US Bank, Akin Gump, Sue Leonard, Michael Connolly, Gary Kirkpatrick, and more.
According to the LA Food Bank, Los Angeles has one of the largest populations suffering from food insecurity. One in five people suffer from hunger in LA County. Most of the victims of hunger are the youth, elderly and low-income families of various backgrounds and ethnicities.
For every dollar donated, the LA Food Bank is able to produce four meals to feed the hungry. The Taste of the Rams event enables the Food Bank to feed 300,000 people on a monthly basis.
The Los Angeles Rams, who are 6-4, are scheduled to play the Baltimore Ravens (8-2) during week 12 on Monday, Nov. 25.
To volunteer or donate, please visit LAFoodBank.org/donate.
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