Larry Nance Jr. hosts successful 'Zero Hunger Challenge' finale at Second Harvest of South Louisiana

New Orleans Pelicans big man and community advocate Larry Nance Jr. joined forces with the Pelicans to address one of the most pressing issues in the greater New Orleans community: food insecurity. On Sunday, March 3, Nance Jr. and the Pelicans hosted the successful finale for his Zero Hunger Challenge at Second Harvest of South Louisiana.

“We are so grateful to Larry Nance Jr. and the Pelicans to shine a light on food insecurity, which affects one in seven people in South Louisiana,” said Natalie Jayroe, President & CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank. “Solving this problem is going to take solutions that have community input, and that’s why it’s great to hear the recommendations from the students who participated.”

During the finale, four finalist schools (Eleanor McMain, Sophie B. Wright, The Willow School and Frederick A. Douglass) showcased their compelling ideas for a chance to win the grand prize of $50,000. A distinguished panel of judges, including Larry Nance Jr., 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) evaluated the presentations and selected the winning team. Dr. Darvelle Hutchins and Pelicans Sideline Reporter Jennifer Hale served as co-emcees for the event, adding expertise and enthusiasm to the proceedings. Adding flavor to the event, local New Orleanian and James Beard Award winning Chef Nina Compton cooked hors d’oeuvres and meals for participants and guests in attendance.

Plans presented included everything from revitalizing corner stores in neighborhoods, to food distribution, to the process of growing nourishing foods in your own home.

Frederick A. Douglass, with its “Keep It Growing” project where people are educated on growing their own food, was the winner. Their plan was the one Nance and the other judges felt could be implemented right away.

“I was so impressed,” Nance said following each of the presentations about all the contestants. “They reached out to the mayor and government officials and just went over and above any kind of goals I could have set for the program. It’s a true testament to the Orleans Parish schools for the type of response and efforts they gave.”

The winning team received a $50,000 check ($10,000 per student). Nance was so impressed that he wrote an additional $25,000 for the second-place team (the Willow School). Now Nance will do his part to help the schools put their plans in action to help fight hunger in the city.

"Through Larry’s unwavering commitment to empowering students with knowledge about food insecurity and systems, the Zero Hunger Challenge resonates as a beacon of hope,” said Dr. Hutchins. “The New Orleans Pelicans, in their collaboration with the Food Intolerance Association, exemplify transformative action, offering students the chance to explore their bodies' responses to food. It's not just a game on the court; it's a movement for change in our communities."

Nance's Zero Hunger Challenge began when he became aware of another pressing issue. After reading about children facing school lunch debt, he reached out to NOLA Superintendent of Public Schools Dr. Avis Williams to ensure that it wasn't an issue in New Orleans. While it wasn't a problem there, this sparked Nance's curiosity, particularly after encountering statistics that he found impossible to ignore.

“We came up with something we could do to inspire change,” Nance said. “Change doesn’t happen without the youth. They’ve got to be bought in and they’ve got to be educated and tuned in to their communities future and the real problems in it.”