NOVI (WWJ) - While the Lions' heartbreaking loss to the San Francisco 49ers last weekend ended Super Bowl dreams and the team's historic season, the Lineage Foundation for Good said its campaign -- in partnership with quarterback Jared Goff -- was a win.
The Foundation's "Touchdowns for Good" program, which supports organizations and initiatives dedicated to community development and eliminating hunger and food, announced on Thursday, Feb, 1, that it donated the equivalent of 150,000 meals to those in need not only in Detroit, but also in cities across the U.S.
Around 40,000 meals were donated to Detroit's Forgotten Harvest following the Detroit Lions' playoff wins in January and 20,000 meals were given to the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank.
Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs, right, celebrates a touchdown against 49ers with quarterback Jared Goff during the first half of the NFC championship game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Sunday, Jan. 28, 2024.© Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (26) celebrates a touchdown against Tampa Bay Buccaneers with quarterback Jared Goff (16) during the second half of the NFC divisional round at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024.© Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff (16) runs for a touchdown against Atlanta Falcons during the second half at Ford Field in Detroit on Sunday, Sept. 24, 2023.© Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
"The remaining 90,000 meals were donated to local food banks across the nation throughout the 2023 NFL Season," the organization stated.
Last year, the Foundation pledged to donate 1,000 meals for every touchdown Goff threw during the 2023 NFL season away games. As Goff ranked up the points, meals came flooding into local food banks in the respective cities of the away games throughout the inaugural Touchdowns for Good campaign.
When the Lions secured their position in the post season, the Foundation extended their pledge into the playoffs and donated meals in Detroit.
Goff, who is also a global ambassador for the Foundation, has a long history for supporting local communities in Detroit and Los Angeles.
"Preceding his Touchdowns for Good campaign with the Foundation, Goff donated food and supplies to those in need, funding two million meals for the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and was named the NFL Players Association's Community MVP for his remarkable donation of forty thousand pounds of fresh food and supplies in 2021 to Detroiters struggling to make ends meet amid the COVID-19 pandemic," the Foundation stated in a press release.
While he was with the Los Angeles Rams, he partnered with California Strong to assist families affected by wildfires.
Goff brought his philanthropic vision to Detroit when he was traded to the Lions. In 2022, the quarterback joined up with Detroit-based Give Merit's FATE program to design an apparel line with proceeds from the collection's sales donated to the program's scholarship fund.
The money went toward helping students enrolled at Detroit's Jalen Rose Leadership Academy in their academic and professional careers.
"Scoring touchdowns meant more this season knowing that our hard work on the field helped put food on the table and make a difference for those in need. This has been an incredible partnership with Lineage's Foundation for Good," said Goff. "Seeing the impact on the communities we've supported this year, throughout the nation and in Detroit, has been extremely humbling, and we're excited to continue and expand the good work with Lineage in 2024."
The Foundation also announced the entire Detroit Lions team is partnering with the Lineage Foundation for Good for a program called 'Everybody Eats' to help put food on the table for families in need in 2024.
"As an emeritus board member of the Foundation and dedicated philanthropist, Jared Goff has been invaluable in furthering our mission of helping feed the world," said Hannah Hoskins, Executive Director of Lineage Foundation for Good. "Together with Jared Goff and now the entire Detroit Lions team, we are energized to bring our national initiative back to Detroit to put food on the table for those in need."
