Pelicans Forward Larry Nance, Jr. Hosting Zero Hunger Challenge Event In New Orleans
New Orleans, LA - The New Orleans Pelicans are in the midst of a playoff push with less than a month and a half remaining in the season. While the focus on the court is important, New Orleans forward Larry Nance, Jr. is making positive strides off the court as well. Back in November, Nance, Jr. announced The Larry Nance, Jr Zero Hunger Challenge, which aimed to combat food insecurities in the local community. Larry enlisted the help of local high-schoolers to invent ways of addressing the root cause of food insecurities in the area.
“We know that food insecurity is a problem finding food for New Orleans residents and people in this community, homeless population, low-income population, people that need access to food,” Nance, Jr. told Marc J. Spears of Andscape back in November. Since then, six schools took turns pitching presentations to Nance on how to best solve food insecurity throughout New Orleans. The finalists come together on March 3, where a panel of judges will evaluate the presentations and select the winning team, who will be awarded $50,000.
"I am thrilled to work with the incredible students of New Orleans to address the critical issue of food insecurity," Nance said. "By empowering these young minds and providing them with the support they need, we can make a lasting impact on our community."
The guest judges include Nance himself, Natalie Jayroe (CEO, Second Harvest of South Louisiana), Mannone Butler (Head of Programs & Partnerships, NBA Social Justice Coalition), Mike Katz (Benson Capital Partners), Dr. Avis Williams (Superintendent, NOLA Public Schools), Swin Cash (Pelicans VP Basketball Operations & Team Development), Dr. Darvelle Hutchins (Pelicans VP Equity & Social Impact), and Tifferney White (CEO, Louisiana Children’s Museum.
Nance's Zero Hunger Challenge also partnered with nonprofit organization Eternal Seeds, which is founded by local artist Brandan “BMike” Odums. Odums and a few Pelicans players collaborated to create a mural in honor of Black History Month. The "I Am Because We Are" mural will be auctioned online from February 23rd to March 16th, with all proceeds dedicated to supporting Eternal Seeds, Larry Nance Jr.’s “Zero Hunger Challenge”, and CJ McCollum’s non-profit initiatives throughout the New Orleans community.
