Karl Malone Announces Partnership With Utah Food Bank

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Jazz legend Karl Malone is beginning a lifetime partnership with the Utah Food Bank to fight hunger in the state he called home during his NBA career.

The Hall of Famer announced at the Heber Valley Airport that his chain of companies would serve as a location for Utahns to drop off goods for the food bank.

Malone has 15 different companies including several car dealerships in the state that will welcome the food bank donations.

“We just purchased a pallet of food at every one of our stores,” Malone said during the announcement, “So no one can make an excuse about where to drop it off.”

Here's an easy action tip – before you donate, talk to your employer's HR department to see if your employer offers donation matches – it's an easy way to have your donation go even further in the fight against hunger! #fightinghungerstatewide pic.twitter.com/BtqTzVMz8V

— Utah Food Bank (@utahfoodbank) September 28, 2021

Malone, who has a home near Heber but also resides in his native Louisiana also challenged his home state to make a larger effort to fight hunger. The Jazz star, who was raised by his single mother as the youngest of nine children, remembered his own food insecurity growing up during the announcement.

“When I was a little boy, If I was hungry, I couldn’t care less what the teacher was saying,” Malone said. “You learn when your stomach is full.”

The Utah Food Bank collects goods through grocery rescue, local and national food donations, financial donations, and food drives which goes to help serve those in need of emergency food assistance, mobile school pantries, and several after-school programs.

Malone spent 19 seasons in the NBA during his career including 18 with the Jazz. The power forward finished as the NBA’s second all-time leading scorer 36,928 points and was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.