17th Annual Taste of the NFL

17th Annual Taste of the NFL returns to the home of the first
u.s. food bank, shares Flavors of the valley Nationally Renowned Chefs and NFL Greats Team Up to Tackle Hunger in America

(PHOENIX) – Jan. 2, 2008 – Returning to the home of the country’s first food bank, Taste of the NFL (TNFL) celebrates its 17th year on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008, at the Phoenix Convention Center. Housed in the South Building of the still-growing state-of-the-art facility, TNFL adds its own flavor to the excitement of Super Bowl XLII with The Party with a Purpose®.

One of a few officially sanctioned NFL events, TNFL gives guests an opportunity to savor some of the Super Bowl action. While feasting on dishes made by nationally renowned chefs, sampling select premium wines from the Gallo Wines family and visiting with all-time football greats, everyone at TNFL comes together to raise awareness and dollars to tackle hunger in America. In addition to stations for each of the 32 NFL teams and the Pro Bowl, guests will enjoy new, themed sections featuring the Flavors of the Valley, The Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa (host of Taste of the NFL in 1996), internationally renowned artist Charles Fazzino and Company American Bistro.

Since its founding in 1992, Taste of the NFL has raised more than $6.8 million for hunger-related charities and has become one of the premier events of Super Bowl weekend, hosting an average of 3,000 guests on the eve of the big game. The recipe for success continues to be outstanding food, perfectly paired wines, personal interaction with NFL greats, one-of-a-kind silent auction and live entertainment.

“This area holds significant meaning to our mission as the home of St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, the first food bank in the country,” said Wayne Kostroski, TNFL founder and executive director. “We are pleased to return to the Valley once again and showcase our excellent team of chefs, players, sponsors and volunteers with the community as we do our part to fight hunger.

A portion of the funds raised through The Party with a Purpose are distributed to members of America's Second Harvest – The Nation's Food Bank Network™ (A2H) located in NFL cities. This year, a special, local emphasis will be placed on the St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance in Phoenix and United Food Bank in Mesa. Additional funds also will be distributed through other national hunger relief programs including Food Research & Action Council (FRAC), The Campus Kitchens Project and the A2H Community Kitchen® program.

“Each year, the partnership and support of our guests, volunteers and sponsors drive our event’s success,” Kostroski added. “At both the national and local levels, this extended team is helping to spread the message and raise funds to feed to the alarming number of people who need our help every day in communities nationwide.”

According to Hunger in America 2006, a hunger study conducted for A2H, approximately 4.5 million different people receive emergency food assistance from the A2H system in any given week – more than the number of residents in the city of Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States. For more information about hunger in America, visit http://www.secondharvest.org/.

In addition to the national event, eight NFL cities hosted a local TNFL celebrity dinner with their respective team in 2007 to raise funds for their communities. Steady growth of the event at both the local and national level has helped TNFL further its mission of tackling hunger in America.

Joining Taste of the NFL XVII in tackling hunger, the sponsors and partners include: E.&J. Gallo Winery, which is providing its wines for the 11th year; Alliance Beverage; Hard Rock Café; Xbox 360™; Food Lion; Pepsi Co.; Hamilton Manufacturing; Starkey Labs; InCide Technologies; Ecolab; EA Sports; Engle Homes; SIKU; Le Cordon Bleu North America – Scottsdale Culinary Institute; The Arizona Republic; Phoenix magazine; Phoenix Home & Gardens; Latino Perspectives; The Phoenix Business Journal; Scottsdale Magazine; and the Martha Stewart Living Radio, NFL and All Sports channels on Sirius. Additionally, Martha Stewart Living Radio is conducting interviews with the TNFL chefs at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. EST each Monday and Friday leading up to the event to share cooking tips and details about the TNFL menu.

In addition to national event ticket sales, auction proceeds and sponsorships, funds also are raised through the sale of the Taste of the NFL Restaurant Guide, offering recipes, restaurant recommendations and tips from some of the finest chefs in America.

Copies of the 2008 Restaurant Guide can be purchased for $19.95 by calling (952) 835-7621. Individual tickets to Taste of the NFL are available for $500, early entry VIP tickets are $600 and corporate tables with VIP amenities for 10 are $6,000. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. For more information, visit http://www.tasteofthenfl.com/.