A Message from Trisha Cunningham

Thank you for being here with us as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Taste of the Cowboys, presented by Ashley and hosted by the Dallas Cowboys!
This is one of our favorite nights of the year, and the support it provides is critical to the North Texas Food Bank’s Nourish the Future programs that directly target child hunger. Since its inception, Taste of the Cowboys has provided children experiencing hunger with access to nearly 14.2 million meals, with last year’s event alone providing 1.5 million meals.
We’re excited to add to that total this year, and we’re grateful for your support as we work to meet needs that are higher now than they’ve ever been.
A new report from Feeding America shows that Texas now has more individuals experiencing food insecurity than any other state in the nation. Nearly 5 million Texans face hunger, and an estimated 777,690 people in the North Texas Food Bank’s service area are food insecure, or 1 in 8. That is enough people to fill AT&T Stadium where the Cowboys play nearly 10 times, and tragically, nearly 40% of those people are children.
By supporting NTFB’s Nourish the Future programs, the funds raised tonight will help ensure we can continue to meet that elevated need. Nourish the Future encompasses our School Pantry program, which provided more than 1.8 million meals across 40 sites during the last school year, as well as our Food 4 Kids program, which provides children facing hunger with backpacks full of shelf-stable, kid-friendly foods to take home on Friday to ensure they have enough food to get them through the weekend. That program serves up to 11,000 kids each week at over 300 schools.
We also know that hunger does not stop when children graduate from high school. Hunger among college students continues to grow, with the National Center for Education Statistics estimating that around a third of college students experience hunger at some point during their undergraduate or graduate school career. NTFB is working to close that gap by partnering with 15 area campuses that host active pantries where students can gain access to the food they need to focus and succeed in school.
Tonight would not be possible without Ashley, which committed in 2022 to serving as the title sponsor for Taste of the Cowboys for five years. Like us, they believe that no one should have to worry about where their next meal will come from, and we are grateful for their strong partnership as we work to close the hunger gap in North Texas.
And, of course, we are beyond thankful to the Dallas Cowboys for hosting this special event and for welcoming us all to their World Headquarters, The Star in Frisco.
We’re thrilled to have country star John Michael Montgomery perform tonight. Known for hits like “Life’s a Dance” and “I Swear,” Montgomery is on his farewell tour after a successful 30-year career in music, and we’re lucky to be among those who will see one of his final live shows.
Taste of the Cowboys also wouldn’t be what it is without the fabulous DFW restaurants and chefs that share their gourmet tailgate food. Thank you to Taste of the Cowboys Founding Chef, Kent Rathburn, who has been dedicated to this event for two decades, and to these participating restaurants: BIRD Bakery, Calabrese Southlake, The Common Table, Dea, Dee Lincoln Prime, Empire Baking Co and Mozzarella Co, Ferris Wheelers Backyard and BBQ, Hattie B's, La Duni, Legends at AT&T Stadium, Legends at Cowboys Club, Legends at The Star in Frisco, Legends at Toyota Stadium, Lockhart Smokehouse, Lover's Seafood, The Mexican, Neighborhood Services, Off the Bone Barbeque, Rathbun’s Curbside BBQ, Salum Restaurant, Shinsei, and Texas de Brazil.
A special thanks goes to our other generous sponsors: KPMG, Tom Thumb/Albertsons Foundation, Arcosa, Pollock, Ashford, Akin, HungerMitao, Nihao, SinHambre and Nakayoshi .
Thank you also to our in-kind donors: Alphagraphics, Crown Royal, Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, Dr Pepper, Hornitos, Jack Daniel's, Jim Beam, Kendra Scott, Molson Coors, On The Rocks and Pepsi.
And don’t miss tonight’s silent auction! From signed sports memorabilia to opulent dinners and exclusive excursions, there’s something for everyone.
Thank you again for joining us tonight! Together, we are working toward a healthy, hunger-free North Texas.
Gratefully,
Trisha Cunningham