The Miami Dolphins Foundation Food Relief Program

Miami Dolphins surpass $1M goal to support minority-owned restaurants through food relief program

The Miami Dolphins announced today that they have surpassed their $1 million goals to directly impact local minority-owned restaurants through the food relief program.

“When we started this program last June, we wanted to be intentional in supporting minority-owned businesses to combat food insecurity, provide consistent resources and keep their doors open during the pandemic,” said Tom Garfinkel, Miami Dolphins Vice Chairman, and CEO. “We are proud to have exceeded our goal and remain committed to supporting small businesses and people in need right here in our backyard in Miami Gardens.”

On June 1, 2020, Miami Dolphins Owner Stephen Ross and the Miami Dolphins Foundation announced a multi-million-dollar major-gift commitment through the Miami Dolphins Foundation for providing jobs and nutrition on a sustained and long-term basis through the Miami Dolphins Food Relief Program. The year-long commitment has provided 1,000 meals each day prepared by Centerplate and local minority-owned restaurants to combat food insecurity. Now in February, the $1 million goals have been surpassed with four months remaining in the program.

“Lorna’s Caribbean, along with others, has experienced some financially difficult times in this pandemic,” said Matari & Ruth Bodie and Lorna Westmoreland, Owners of Lorna’s Caribbean & American Grill. “Through the Miami Dolphins Foundation Food Relief Program we were able to stay afloat as well as provide meals for the less fortunate in Miami Gardens. We are very appreciative and proud to be a part of this great experience with the Dolphins. We appreciate this opportunity to introduce our restaurant to a whole new audience. May you continue your support of Lorna’s the Caribbean and American Grille as well as the beautiful city of Miami Gardens.”

“People don’t care what you know until they know how much you care, “said Chef Herbert Coleman with Seed Miami.
For Coleman, those are words to live by. The Miami native, along with Robert Thompson, created Seed Miami, a catering business and food truck. Prior to COVID, Seed Miami could be found at some of Florida’s most popular events including Super Bowl LIV and Rolling Loud. They also served at the Veteran’s Hospital for two years.
But like many businesses during the pandemic, theirs too was hit hard.

“It was tough, it was very tough for me to the point that you had to focus on the next day, “ said Coleman.
Once the pandemic hit, everything changed. Now Coleman, along with his food truck and employees, is rolling in to feed those in need.

Seed Miami was at the Broward Outreach Center where they distributed 150 meals. “This was definitely a major pivot for us and as a result, we are here feeding people, “said Coleman. None of that could have been possible if it wasn’t for the generosity of the Miami Dolphins Foundation Food Relief Program.

“Stephen Ross and Vice Chairman Tom Garfinkel had the idea when we first knew it was going to be a different time during the pandemic. How could we impact the community each and every day, not just one event? So, over the course of this time, we have a multimillion commitment to minority-owned businesses during this program. A thousand meals have come out of our stadium through Centerplate. We’ve done it for up to 12 months and we hope to extend it now as this need continues, “said Jason Jenkins, Miami Dolphins Senior Vice President.

“This is an incredible opportunity that the Dolphins have presented to us, as an independent business owner in the food industry, they’ve allowed us to be a blessing to people in this time of need, “said Coleman.

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