Taste! At the Star Provides Nearly 2.5 Million Meals for Children Facing Hunger

Thanks to the support of our generous guests, sponsors and participating restaurant, beverage and entertainment sponsors, NTFB raised nearly $828,000.

North Texas Food Bank will be able to provide children facing hunger with nearly 2.5 million meals thanks to funds raised through Taste! At the Star, presented by Tyson Foods.

Held June 13 at The Star in Frisco, the signature event featured gourmet tastings from over two dozen local restaurants, live entertainment by the Justin Till Band and exciting auctions—all in support of ensuring no child has to worry about where their next meal will come from.

Formerly known as Taste of the Cowboys, the event was reimagined into this premier culinary event. For the first time, the evening also featured a new Mission Engagement Experience meant to provide an interactive look at some of the struggles our neighbors face when grocery shopping with a limited budget.

During the event, educator Loretta Smith also was recognized for her commitment to ensuring every student in her district has access to nutritious food. The district started its program less than two years ago and Loretta has grown it to include regular mobile distributions that serve every grade level plus the community. She also implemented “Care Closets” where school counselors can take students to receive food and other necessities on campus. 

“It’s about taking the gap and making it smaller and letting them know we really do care,” she says. “It makes a huge difference for the kids.”

Taste! would not have been possible without the generosity of the chefs and restaurants that served food. A special thanks to our longtime Celebrity Chef Kent Rathbun, of Rathbun’s Curbside BBQ. Other participating restaurants included: BIRD Bakery, Cowboys Club, Dee’s Table, Burgers & More, Dee Lincoln Prime, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, Empire Baking Company, Ferris Wheelers Backyard & BBQ, Hattie B’s Hot Chicken, La Duni Baking Studio, Legends at AT&T Stadium, Legends at The Star, Legends at Toyota Stadium, Lockhart Smokehouse, Lovers Seafood & Market, Mozzarella Company, Omni Frisco Hotel at The Star, Off the Bone Barbeque, Perch Bistro & Bar, Salum Restaurant, Shinsei, Uchiko, SER Steak & Spirits, Sawaii Indian Restaurant, Yelibelly Chocolates and The Original Pancake House, which provided coffee as guests left The Star.

In addition to our presenting sponsor, Tyson Foods, we’re extremely grateful to each of our other sponsors: Dallas Cowboys, Ryan, McLane, Baylor Scott & White Health, Tom Thumb/Albertsons Foundation, Comstock Resources, Arcosa, Casamigos, Crown Royal, Smirnoff, Stout, Dallas Stars Foundation, KPMG, Lincoln, Akin, Bank of America, the Pollock Foundation in memory of Lonnie Pollock III, PlainsCapital Bank, Titos Handmade Vodka, Ashford, and Jackson Walker. We’re also thankful to our in-kind sponsors AlphaGraphics, Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, Dr Pepper, Hornitos, Jim Beam, Kendra Scott, Molson Coors, On the Rocks Premium Cocktails, Papa John’s Pizza and Pepsi.

And we could not have put on this event without the tireless work of our co-chairs and host committee. A heartfelt thank you to co-chairs Tom Walker and Ginny Kissling as well as our host committee: Jay Allison, Anna & Raj Asava, Therese Baird, Chris Bankler, Sherice & Tim Brown, Jennifer Chandler, Ryan Gebhart, Christy Lara, Cindy & Maher Masso, Drew Mitchell, Mary Martha Pickens, Chase Prospere, LuAnn Tarango, Wes Tidwell, Michelle Van Pelt and Matt Wojciechowski.