John Howie Restaurants raise $118k for Food Lifeline

February 22, 2017 1:30 am
Chef John Howie (center) and former Seattle Seahawk Craig Terrill are joined by John Howie Restaurants employees to raise money for Food Lifeline as part of the NFL’s Kick Hunger Challenge. Contributed photo
Chef John Howie (center) and former Seattle Seahawk Craig Terrill are joined by John Howie Restaurants employees to raise money for Food Lifeline as part of the NFL’s Kick Hunger Challenge. Contributed photo

Chef John Howie and former Seattle Seahawk Craig Terrill rallied generous 12s throughout the NFL season to raise $113,189 for Food Lifeline, Washington State’s largest hunger relief network that stocks the shelves of nearly 275 local food banks, meal programs and shelters.

The substantial effort earned the Seattle Seahawks team captains a second place finish in the Kick Hunger Challenge, which generated an additional $5,000 prize from the Taste of the NFL to increase the total Food Lifeline donation to $118,189.

The Kick Hunger Challenge is a friendly fundraising competition between all 32 NFL teams to raise money for food banks nationwide. Over the last five seasons, the Seattle team has won the Taste of the NFL’s Kick Hunger Challenge three times, providing more than $525,000 for Food Lifeline – or 2.6 million meals – for those in need around Western Washington.

“I am proud that our representation of the Seattle Seahawks to benefit Food Lifeline, both amazing organizations with a desire to win, has made a real difference for hungry families in our community,” Howie said. “It is humbling to have had a hand in locally providing 2.6 million meals in five years, demonstrating that if we put our minds, bodies and resources together, we can end hunger.”

Howie has been actively involved over the last 13 years with the Taste of the NFL and the Kick Hunger Challenge.

For every $1 donated, Food Lifeline is able to provide five nutritious meals to hungry people in Western Washington. Because of generous local fan support during this season’s Kick Hunger Challenge, Food Lifeline will provide an additional 590,945 meals.

“A huge thank you to Chef John, Craig and the thousands of Seahawk fans that supported the Kick Hunger Challenge this year,” said Linda Nageotte, Food Lifeline president and CEO. “Thanks to their hard work and dedication to ending hunger, they’ve created 500,000 meals for our hungry neighbors across Western Washington.”

Numerous season-long fundraising activities comprised this year’s Seattle Seahawks team effort:

  • John Howie Restaurants donated one dollar from each hand-crafted specialty Kick Hunger Challenge cocktail served from October through January at Beardslee Public House (Bothell), Seastar Restaurant and Raw Bar (Bellevue), John Howie Steak (Bellevue) and SPORT Restaurant & Bar (Seattle).
  • Beardslee Public House hosted The Craig Terrill Sing-Along and Seahawks Raffle in December.
  • The Kick Hunger Challenge Celebrity Poker Tournament, played Texas Hold ‘Em style, included dinner, a whiskey tasting and a silent auction. The event was held last June at Food Lifeline’s Hunger Solution Center and featured current and former Seattle Seahawks, and other famous faces from the Seattle area.
  • Ames Bros and Pearl Jam donated profits from the exclusively designed Kick Hunger Challenge “Seahawks vs. Hunger” apparel collection.
  • SPORT Restaurant & Bar raffled an autographed Russell Wilson jersey, professionally framed by Lake City Framing.
  • Howie and SPORT Restaurant & Bar hosted the Kick Hunger Challenge dinner and auction in January, where nearly $60,000 was raised on one night alone. The evening included a silent auction and spirited live auction, a Texas-style Super Bowl-themed dinner and appearances by Seattle Hall of Famers Lenny Wilkens and Walter Jones, Seahawks legends Jordan Babineaux, Sean Locklear and Jim Zorn, and Blitz, the official mascot of the Seattle Seahawks.

This is taken from a John Howie Restaurants press release.