MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Miami Dolphins Foundation Food Relief Program this week distributed 25,615 meals to South Florida community members through a series of Thanksgiving meal distributions. The team collaborated with Football UNITES™ community partners, local minority-owned restaurants and team partners ahead of the holiday. The Food Relief Program, led by Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross and Vice Chairman and CEO Tom Garfinkel, is a year-long, multimillion-dollar commitment that addresses record unemployment and food insecurity in the wake of COVID-19. To date, the program has distributed more than 255,000 meals in its continuous effort to impact members of the South Florida community.
“Led by contributions from our Owner Stephen Ross and with the help of community partners and local businesses, the Miami Dolphins Foundation Food Relief Program impacts all aspects of the South Florida community especially this holiday season seeking opportunities to give back to those who have been affected during this global pandemic,” said Miami Dolphins Senior Vice President of Communications and Community Affairs, Jason Jenkins. “The Dolphins are committed to putting words into actions and through this program we are continuing to support and rebuild South Florida all-year-long reaching out to those in need in an effort to make this Thanksgiving as enjoyable as possible for everyone.”
Miami Dolphins Foundation Food Relief Program Thanksgiving distribution events included:
- Monday Nov. 23: In partnership with Ambetter through Sunshine Health, the Miami Dolphins Foundation Food Relief Program and the Football UNITES™ program distributed 850 meal kits to South Florida families at Hard Rock Stadium. Identified by Feeding South Florida and Football UNITES™, selected families arrived to Hard Rock Stadium in a drive-up format to receive meal kits provided by Feeding South Florida each capable of feeding a household of 4-6 people consisting of a turkey, fresh produce and sides.
- Tuesday Nov. 24: In partnership with Centerplate and Sysco South Florida, the Miami Dolphins Foundation Food Relief Program distributed 6,480 meals to the South Florida community at Hard Rock Stadium. The meals were prepared and catered by Centerplate, the team’s food, beverage and retail partner.
- Tuesday Nov. 24 – Wednesday Nov. 25: The Miami Dolphins Foundation Food Relief Program received a $100,000 grant as the winner of the NFL’s Huddle for 100 initiative, leading the league with 75,623,500 volunteer minutes in the 2019 season. With this grant, the Dolphins partnered with 43 local minority-owned restaurants and 58 organizational partners and communities to distribute 13,535 meals across Broward, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties.
Launched on June 1 by a multi-million-dollar commitment from Stephen Ross, the Miami Dolphins Foundation Food Relief Program was created in response to record unemployment and food insecurity brought on by COVID-19. The program provides up to 1,000 meals each day from local minority owned restaurants and Centerplate, the team’s food, beverage and retail partner, which employs guest services and security staff at the stadium that have been affected as a result of COVID-19 cancellations on a long-term basis. These meals will be distributed to families in need in Miami Gardens and surrounding communities for up to a year. To reinforce these initiatives, Stephen Ross and the Miami Dolphins Foundation announced in September that at least $1 million will go directly towards
supporting minority-owned restaurants. Individuals and businesses that wish to participate in the match program can donate online at dolphins.com/meals.
