El Pollo Loco® Partners with WNBA Star Arike Ogunbowale to Support School Sports Teams Nationwide
El Pollo Loco (NASDAQ: LOCO) and WNBA star Arike Ogunbowale launched the “Bring the Fire” contest via the El Pollo Loco Foundation to support school sports teams nationwide.
Rhea-AI Summary
El Pollo Loco (NASDAQ: LOCO) and WNBA star Arike Ogunbowale launched the “Bring the Fire” contest via the El Pollo Loco Foundation to support school sports teams nationwide. Five teams will each receive $2,000 in new equipment, totaling $10,000. The contest runs through February 19, 2026, with winners announced mid‑March 2026 on El Pollo Loco’s Instagram. The initiative follows a $10,000 donation and surprise visit to Lancaster High School, and entries require an Instagram video tagging @elpolloloco, @arike_ogunbowale, and hashtags #EPLfire and #Contest.
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Details
News Market Reaction – LOCO
In the Jan 20 session, LOCO declined 2.42%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
- Total contest equipment awards
- $10,000
- “Bring the Fire” contest grants for school sports teams
- Teams supported
- 5 teams
- Number of school sports teams receiving contest awards
- Award per team
- $2,000
- Grant amount each winning school sports team will receive
- Contest end date
- February 19, 2026
- Deadline for “Bring the Fire” contest entries
- Donation to Lancaster High
- $10,000
- El Pollo Loco Foundation support for Lancaster High School girls’ basketball
Historical Context
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Participation in the 28th Annual ICR investor conference and webcast.
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Launch of high-protein Double Pollo Salads across multiple flavors nationwide.
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Appointment of two new independent directors and related board transitions.
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Return of “12 Days of Pollo” deals and charitable tie-in to No Kid Hungry.
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Q3 2025 financial results with modest revenue growth and mixed comps.
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
“Bring the Fire” contest, through the El Pollo Loco Foundation, will award a total of
COSTA MESA, Calif., Jan. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- El Pollo Loco, the nation’s leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant chain, is teaming up with women’s basketball superstar Arike Ogunbowale to support school sports teams across the country through its Foundation’s “Bring the Fire” contest, an initiative designed to uplift young athletes and provide much-needed equipment to school programs.
Through the contest, funded by the El Pollo Loco Foundation, five school sports teams will each receive
“School sports are such a powerful source of confidence and community for young athletes, but not every school has the resources to replace equipment or maintain facilities — and that shouldn’t be a barrier to participation or success,” said Arike Ogunbowale. “I’m proud to partner with El Pollo Loco and the El Pollo Loco Foundation to help remove those barriers so student athletes can focus on having fun, building confidence, teamwork, and a love for the game.”
The initiative builds on a recent visit by Arike and El Pollo Loco to Lancaster High School in Texas, where they surprised the girls’ basketball team with a special appearance. During the visit, Arike played a spirited game of P-O-L-L-O (a twist on H-O-R-S-E) and presented a
“Thanks to the El Pollo Loco Foundation, supporting the communities we serve goes beyond our restaurants,” said Jill Adams, Chief Marketing Officer at El Pollo Loco. “Partnering with Arike, whose leadership and passion for uplifting underserved youth is evident in everything she does, is a true embodiment of what we aim to achieve in our communities. Her commitment to her community aligns perfectly with our foundation’s mission to support the youth in the communities we serve.”
How to Enter the ‘Bring the Fire’ Contest:
- Record a video about what school sports team you’re nominating, why you think the team deserves to win and what they would spend the prize money on
- Post that video on Instagram and be sure to tag #EPLfire and #Contest in the caption
- Follow both @elpolloloco and @arike_ogunbowale for updates about the contest
Visit ElPolloLoco.com/BringtheFire for official details and Terms & Conditions.
About El Pollo Loco
El Pollo Loco (Nasdaq: LOCO) is the nation's leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant known for its craveable, flavorful, and better-for-you offerings. Named by USA Today 10 Best Reader’s Choice Awards as a “Best Restaurant for Quick, Healthy Food” two years in a row, our menu features innovative meals with Mexican-inspired flavors made daily in our restaurants using quality ingredients. At El Pollo Loco, inclusivity is at the heart of our culture. Our community of over 4,000 employees reflects our commitment to creating a workplace where everyone has a seat at our table. Since 1980, El Pollo Loco has successfully expanded its presence, operating more than 500 company-owned and franchised restaurants across nine U.S. states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Washington. The company has also extended its footprint internationally, with licensed restaurant locations in the Philippines. For more information or to place an order, visit the Loco Rewards app or ElPolloLoco.com. Follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, or X.
About El Pollo Loco Foundation
EL Pollo Loco Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity that aims to provide food and other necessities for those in financial need.
CONTACT:
El Pollo Loco
media@elpolloloco.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0e22b161-9397-4746-bbb1-54d61a829fdf
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