NASHVILLE – NFL commissioner Roger Goodell praised Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk on Wednesday morning for her role in bringing the 2019 NFL Draft to the city.
On the same day, Strunk donated $100,000 to a pair of Nashville non-profits charged with fighting hunger in the community at the NFL's Huddle Against Hunger event at Nissan Stadium.
"We are so thrilled to be here in Nashville, and the excitement, you can feel it," Goodell said. "To Amy, thank you … because we wouldn't be here without you. Your leadership with the Titans, but also the respect you have in the NFL is something that brought us to Nashville as well as this great city. So thank you."
In partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee and The Bridge Ministry, a large number of NFL Draft prospects on Wednesday led 500 volunteers to assemble 8,000 food kits for children who qualify for hunger relief programs throughout Tennessee as part of the Huddle Against Hunger initiative.
Strunk surprised the two non-profits at the NFL's kickoff community event of the 2019 NFL Draft which will be held this week in Nashville.
In addition to Goodell and Strunk, Nashville Mayor David Briley was also part of the event.
"It was nice," Strunk said of Goodell's positive comments. "You just have to put your head down and go to work and do the best you can for our city and our team and our fans and hopefully at the end of the day people are proud and recognize this team has made a complete 180 and hopefully we are on our way."
Strunk presented checks of $50,000 each to The Bridge Ministry and Second Harvest Food Bank Middle Tennessee at a large-scale food bag assembly event at Nissan Stadium.
"I was shocked," said Courtney Blaise, Community Relations Manager for the Second Harvest Food Bank. "The donation was a complete surprise for us. It's going to provide 200,000 meals, and that will make such a positive impact on our community. I told (Amy) we are so thankful. It's just unimaginable that we would get this donation."
The Titans have long-standing relationships with both charities, including yearly visits to serve the homeless at the Bridge Ministries and annual food drives at Titans games to benefit Second Harvest.
Strunk was also on hand Tuesday night when Titans players and NFL officials teamed with the Bridge Ministry to help feed the homeless at the Jefferson Street Bridge.
The NFL Draft begins on Thursday night in downtown Nashville.
"Here we are," Strunk said, "and it's going to be amazing."
