Eckrich® Scores Big for Education with $600,000 Donation at College Football Playoff National Championship

Rhea-AI Summary

Eckrich (SFD) announced that ESPN’s Marty Smith unlocked $600,000 for educators on Jan. 19, 2026, as part of the Eckrich $1 Million Challenge for Teachers, funding the CFP Foundation’s Extra Yard for Teachers initiative. Eckrich said the brand has contributed $3.5 million since the program began in 2018. The company also provided $250,000 for five Extra Yard Makeovers, awarded $5,000 and a championship-weekend trip to the Eckrich Teacher of the Year, and donated $10,000 plus $2,000 in groceries to selected educators during the mobile tour.

Positive

• Unlocked $600,000 for educators via the Eckrich $1 Million Challenge
• Total contributions of $3.5 million to teachers since 2018
• Provided $250,000 to five schools for Extra Yard Makeovers
• Awarded $5,000 and a trip to the Eckrich Teacher of the Year
• Donated $10,000 plus $2,000 in groceries to tour educators

Negative

• None.

News Market Reaction

-0.34%

1 alert

-0.34% News Effect

On the day this news was published, SFD declined 0.34%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

National Championship donation: $600,000 Teacher challenge cap: $1,000,000 Total teacher support: $3,500,000 +5 more

8 metrics

National Championship donation $600,000 Donation unlocked for educators through Extra Yard for Teachers initiative

Teacher challenge cap $1,000,000 Maximum potential funding in Eckrich $1 Million Challenge for Teachers

Total teacher support $3,500,000 Cumulative contribution since Eckrich $1 Million Challenge for Teachers began

Per-game education grants $2,500 Amount provided to support local initiatives at each of four games

Grocery support for teachers $500 Free groceries per participating teacher at local retailers

Game-day donations total $10,000 Total donations across four games via Extra Yard for Teachers support

Extra Yard Makeover funding $250,000 Support provided to five schools to revitalize learning spaces

Teacher of the Year grant $5,000 Funds for classroom projects awarded to Eckrich Teacher of the Year

Market Reality Check

Price: $24.43 Vol: Volume 539,316 is below 2...

normal vol

$24.43 Last Close

Volume Volume 539,316 is below 20-day average 768,426 (relative volume 0.7). normal

Technical Price 23.45 is trading above 200-day MA at 22.85, reflecting a modestly supportive trend.

Peers on Argus

SFD is up 0.17% while key packaged food peers are mostly down (e.g., CAG -1.57%,...

SFD is up 0.17% while key packaged food peers are mostly down (e.g., CAG -1.57%, BRFS -4.79%), indicating a stock-specific tone rather than a sector-wide move.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Jan 13 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Jan 13	Community grant program	Positive	+2.1%	Launch of Impact Grant Program offering $10,000+ community grants.
Dec 16	Hunger relief donation	Positive	+0.3%	Distribution of 1,000 free holiday hams to fight hunger.
Nov 21	Foodbank protein donation	Positive	+1.0%	Donation of 32,000 pounds of protein to local foodbanks.
Dec 03	Investor conferences	Neutral	-0.7%	Participation in two December investor conferences with executive fireside chats.
Nov 13	Protein donation event	Positive	-0.9%	34,000-pound protein donation in Wisconsin ahead of holidays.

Pattern Detected

Recent CSR and community-impact announcements have generally coincided with modestly positive next-day price reactions, with one notable divergence.

Recent Company History

Over the past few months, Smithfield Foods (SFD) has highlighted community and philanthropic efforts, including large protein donations and the 2026 Impact Grant Program. These events on Nov 13, 2025, Nov 21, 2025, Dec 16, 2025, and Jan 13, 2026 typically saw small positive price moves within 24 hours, suggesting investors have responded constructively to ESG-oriented messaging. One donation event showed a mild negative reaction, underscoring that goodwill initiatives do not always drive near-term gains but form a consistent part of SFD’s narrative that today’s education-focused donation extends.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement underscores Smithfield’s ongoing ESG and education focus, directing $600,000 to te...

Analysis

This announcement underscores Smithfield’s ongoing ESG and education focus, directing $600,000 to teachers and citing $3.5 million in cumulative challenge contributions. It builds on recent grant and hunger-relief programs that have featured prominently in SFD’s news flow. Investors may track how consistently such initiatives appear alongside core financial disclosures, including trends from the latest 10-Q, to assess how community investments complement operating performance and brand positioning over time.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

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 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.”

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.

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 $2,500 to support local education initiatives at each of the four games, as well as $500 worth of free groceries at a local retailer for the participating teachers, totaling $10,000 in donations and $2,000 in groceries.

“The greatest victories are about more than the scoreboard,” said Marty Smith, sports journalist for ESPN. “Those wins are about celebrating the people who worked hard to help you achieve that success. Partnering with Eckrich and the CFP Foundation means helping teachers inspire the next generation and changing lives. That’s a win worth celebrating.”

“Eckrich has been an incredible partner for eight years, and their unwavering support has been fundamental to the success of our mission,” said Britton Banowsky, executive director of the CFP Foundation. “Having a partner so dedicated to empowering teachers makes a significant impact in making our work possible.”

This past year, Eckrich also supported the Extra Yard Makeover program by providing $250,000 to five deserving schools across the country to transform and revitalize a central learning space of each school’s choice, such as a cafeteria, library or media center. Participating schools along the route of the brand’s annual college football fan mobile tour were selected on a merit and needs basis.

Eckrich also honored the winner of the Eckrich^® Teacher of the Year, Sarah Damato, a special education teacher from Pennsylvania, with a once-in-a-lifetime trip to experience the 2026 CFP National Championship weekend, plus $5,000 to fund classroom projects.  

For more information about the Eckrich $1 Million Challenge for Teachers and the Eckrich National Teacher of the Year program, please visit www.Eckrich.com/teachers. For more information about Eckrich, please visit www.Eckrich.com and follow Eckrich on Facebook, Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter.

About Eckrich
Founded by Peter Eckrich in 1894, Eckrich has a rich heritage starting from a small meat market in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to one of the most recognized regional premium deli and meat brands on the market today. Through it all, Eckrich meats have been recognized for their great taste, craftsmanship, care and pride. For more information, visit www.Eckrich.com and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter. Eckrich is a brand of Smithfield Foods. 

About Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods, Inc. (Nasdaq: SFD) is an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products. With a diverse brand portfolio and strong relationships with U.S. farmers and customers, we responsibly meet demand for quality protein around the world.

About the College Football Playoff
The College Football Playoff (CFP) is the event that crowns the national champion in college football. The CFP selection committee ranks the top 25 teams at the end of the regular season. The five highest ranked conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked teams will be seeded into a 12-team bracket based on the final ranking, with the four highest-ranked teams receiving a first-round bye. The teams ranked Nos. 5-12 will play in the CFP First Round, with the higher seeds hosting the lower seeds. The Playoff Quarterfinals and Playoff Semifinals rotate annually among six bowl games – the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, Capital One Orange Bowl, Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Rose Bowl Game presented by Prudential and the Allstate Sugar Bowl. The College Football Playoff National Championship will be on Monday, January 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. For additional information on the College Football Playoff, visit CollegeFootballPlayoff.com.

About the College Football Playoff Foundation  
The College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation is the 501(c)3 non-profit organization serving as the community engagement arm of the College Football Playoff and works in partnership with institutions of higher education, sports organizations, corporations and non-profits to support educators and improve student outcomes. The purpose of the CFP Foundation lies in supporting PK-12 education by elevating the teaching profession. The CFP Foundation inspires and empowers educators by focusing its work in four areas: recognition, resources, recruitment and retention, and professional development. To learn more, visit cfp-foundation.org and follow Extra Yard for Teachers (@CFPExtraYard) on social media.  

Media contact:
Tracey Schneider
tschneider@smithfield.com
513.218.0524

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c60563f1-e176-4722-b89e-ca4e8ca18dee

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/9672c7c8-9777-432d-ac97-d1b8657c7dae

FAQ

What did Eckrich (SFD) announce on January 19, 2026 regarding teacher funding?

Eckrich announced that Marty Smith unlocked $600,000 for educators as part of the Eckrich $1 Million Challenge for Teachers.

How much has Eckrich (SFD) contributed to teachers since 2018?

Eckrich reported total contributions of $3.5 million to teachers since the program began in 2018.

What is the Eckrich Extra Yard Makeover support announced by Eckrich (SFD)?

Eckrich provided $250,000 to five schools to transform a central learning space through the Extra Yard Makeover program.

Who won the Eckrich Teacher of the Year and what did they receive from Eckrich (SFD)?

Sarah Damato was named Eckrich Teacher of the Year and received a championship-weekend trip plus $5,000 for classroom projects.

What additional local support did Eckrich (SFD) provide during the 2026 mobile tour?

Eckrich gave the CFP Foundation $2,500 per selected educator at four games (totaling $10,000) and provided $2,000 in groceries to participating teachers.

Where can investors find more information about Eckrich (SFD) teacher programs?

Information is available at www.Eckrich.com/teachers and on the Eckrich consumer social channels.