With Oklahomans across the state proudly cheering for the Oklahoma City Thunder this summer, our crew at the Oklahoma Pork Council decided to use the celebration as a perfect opportunity to feed our neighbors in need while promoting the pork industry.
As the OKC Thunder began competing in the Western Conference Finals against the Minnesota Timberwolves a few weeks ago, the Oklahoma Pork Council began our fun "Points for Pounds Challenge" with a friendly wager to our friends at the Minnesota Pork Board. By the time the Thunder were named Western Conference Champions on May 30, a total of 1,139 pounds of pork were committed for donation to worthy charities between Oklahoma and Minnesota - with each pound of pork tallied for every point scored by our home state basketball teams. In Oklahoma, we decided to share the 600-pounds from Thunder points with our amazing partners at the Homeless Alliance in Oklahoma City. We were also proud to see our friends in Minnesota make their donation to food banks throughout their state.
Now, as we excitedly cheer for the Thunder in the NBA Finals this week and next, the Oklahoma Pork Council has taken the challenge "10X" by committing to donating 10 pounds of pork for every point OKC scores against the Indiana Pacers. Not to be left out of the fun, Indiana's pig farmers shot back they will bring "the heat and the meat" to participate as well. Although our Oklahoma crew is hopeful we are watching history as the Thunder secure Oklahoma's first NBA Championship - this engaging challenge helping pig farmers get recognition for your generosity is a slam dunk no matter what.
Click here to see Oklahoma Pork's Shay Stegmann do a fantastic job describing the challenge to News 9 during our first "Points for Pounds" donation drop, then don't forget to root for high scoring point totals on both sides to help Oklahoma Pork and our friends at the Indiana Pork to give BIG this month!