By Attending Taste of the Draft, Steelers Fans And Foodies Can Help Fund Local Student Nutrition Programs

PHOTO COURTESY OF GENYOUTH

A football tailgate party isn’t a place you typically find healthy food, but the NFL wants to make sure kids’ nutrition isn’t sidelined.

On April 22 — the eve of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh — celebrity chef Andrew Zimmern will host a culinary fundraiser to support 50,000 students across Western Pennsylvania. Tickets are available online.

Held from 4 to 7 p.m. at The Tower at PNC Plaza Downtown, Taste of the Draft will feature offerings from 20 local restaurants, appearances by Steelers legends, a cookie table and a few surprises. Applications are still being accepted for Pittsburgh chefs who want to get in the game.

“It’s going to be a food and football extravaganza,” says Ann Marie Krautheim, CEO of GENYOUth, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping school children thrive by living a well-nourished and physically active life.

Established in 2010 through a partnership with the NFL and America’s dairy farmers, the New York-based organization launched Taste of the Draft last year in Green Bay, Wis., modeling the fundraiser after Taste of the NFL, Super Bowl weekend’s largest philanthropic party.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GENYOUTH

Money generated by Taste of the Draft will supply districts with nutrition equipment grants and NFL FLAG-In-School kits, which include 10 age-appropriate footballs, 50 flag belts, a ball pump and a mesh carrying bag.

In Southwestern Pennsylvania, one in five children faces food insecurity, and fewer than one in four nationwide get the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity. Through GENYOUth initiatives, kids can grab a wholesome meal that includes milk, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean protein that gives them energy to pass the pigskin.

PHOTO COURTESY OF GENYOUTH

From Feb. 10 to March 10, Western Pennsylvania schools can apply online for a nutrition equipment grant that will fund grab-and-go meal carts, insulated milk merchandisers and other tools that allow administrators to bring meals directly to students in hallways and classrooms, reducing barriers and increasing participation. The grant program coverage area includes Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Washington, Westmoreland and Allegheny counties.

Since 2026 marks the 91st anniversary of the NFL Draft, 91 grants will be distributed.

The first $10,000 went to Allegheny Traditional Academy in the Pittsburgh Public School District. More than 150 students attended the December 2025 kick-off event that included a flag football clinic with Steelers great Maurkice Pouncey. Pupils experienced firsthand how nutritious school meals and regular physical activity work together to fuel stronger bodies and minds.

“Our motto is ‘Doing good never tasted so great.’ I’m really excited that we can increase the visibility of all Pittsburgh has to offer on the food and football scene,” says Krautheim, whose son lives in the North Hills. “We throw a great event that will leave a legacy for children long after the Draft leaves Pittsburgh.”