Sports
Eckrich® Scores Big for Education with $600,000 Donation at College Football Playoff National Championship
MIAMI, Jan. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eckrich, the Official Smoked Sausage and Deli Meat Sponsor of the College Football Playoff, welcomed ESPN’s Marty Smith to the field during the CFP National Championship on Jan. 19 in Miami. Marty Smith made three successful throws as part of the Eckrich® $1 Million Challenge for Teachers, unlocking $600,000 to benefit educators nationwide through the CFP Foundation’s Extra Yard for Teachers initiative. “Big wins don’t just happen on the field – they happ
About this update from Smithfield Foods, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"MIAMI, Jan. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eckrich, the Official Smoked Sausage and Deli Meat Sponsor of the College Football Playoff, welcomed ESPN’s Marty Smith to the field during the CFP National Championship on Jan. 19 in Miami. Marty Smith made three successful throws as part of the Eckrich® $1 Million Challenge for Teachers, unlocking $600,000 to benefit educators nationwide through the CFP Foundation’s Extra Yard for Teachers initiative.","length":447,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"“Big wins don’t just happen on the field – they happen in classrooms every day thanks to teachers,” said Shane Smith, president and CEO of Smithfield Foods. “Teachers play an essential role in every community, and contributing $3.5 million since our Eckrich brand’s $1 Million Challenge for Teachers began is a true championship moment for all of us.”","length":351,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"image","alt":"Eckrich CFP Photo 1","displaySize":"","headline":null,"caption":"Eckrich CFP Photo 1","className":"","disableSlideshowImg":false,"size":{"original":{"width":7511,"height":5010,"url":"https://media.zenfs.com/en/globenewswire.com/d19a2883b51a9d92c8f7242840540ea3"},"resized":{"url":"https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/PdBeQ3AtqBeX8w2HjYmXfg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/globenewswire.com/d19a2883b51a9d92c8f7242840540ea3","width":960,"height":640},"lightbox":{"url":"https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/64Ym1dnek.xRjMKPehyLnA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTI0MDA7aD0xNjAwO2NmPXdlYnA-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/globenewswire.com/d19a2883b51a9d92c8f7242840540ea3","width":1200,"height":800}}},{"type":"text","content":"","length":0,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"Since 2018, Eckrich and the CFP Foundation have invited nominated teachers to take the field during regular season college games for a 15-yard throw challenge, giving them the chance to win up to $1 million for their schools. The program highlights educators in front of fans, while providing critical funding for classrooms nationwide. This year included visits to four schools as part of the Eckrich brand mobile tour.","length":420,"tagName":"p"},{"type":"text","content":"While there was no winning throw this season, Eckrich recognized each of the selected educators for their dedication to their students by providing the CFP Foundation with $2...