Meghan Phrampus wants to raise $5,000.
To do this, Phrampus — a 23-year-old North Hills resident and Pittsburgh sports social media influencer — plans to walk 30 miles in 30 days. If her fundraising efforts are successful, Phrampus’ steps will help feed 30,000 people.
Phrampus’ campaign is part of the larger #BurghProud Challenge, which calls on people throughout the region to help raise funds for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank to combat hunger.
The challenge was announced Monday by Pittsburgh’s three major sports teams, in partnership with the Richard King Mellon Foundation and GoFundMe. Participants are encouraged to walk or run 30 miles throughout June and raise money through GoFundMe pages.
The Richard King Mellon Foundation said it will match every dollar raised up to $1 million.
Phrampus said her goal is to turn $5,000 into $10,000 to fight hunger.
She launched a fundraising call on social media. Phrampus has just under 30,000 followers on Instagram and more than 10,400 followers on TikTok. She had raised more than $1,700 by noon Tuesday.
“It’s really a numbers game at the end of the day,” Phrampus said.
The more eyes on her video create more opportunities for people to donate, she said.
@412.meg This city has given me so much, and this is one small way I can give back???? I’m proud to be a Team Captain for the #BurghProud Challenge, supporting the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and helping fight food insecurity in our community. Any support, whether it’s donating or sharing, truly means a lot. Link in bio. #burghproud#pittsburgh#412♬ original sound – 412.meg
In the past, the Richard King Mellon Foundation has awarded the food bank more than $7.5 million, officials said.
“But I don’t think we’ve ever made a food bank grant with greater potential impact than this one,” said Sam Reiman, director and trustee at the Richard King Mellon Foundation, in an MLB news release.
Within the first 24 hours, the challenge had more than 200 people registered and had already raised more than $6,000.
Brian Gulish, spokesman for the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, said he hopes the challenge raises $1 million to be matched by the foundation.
Gulish said that if the campaign reaches that goal, the nonprofit will be able to distribute about 6 million additional meals across its community partners.
Officials from the Richard King Mellon Foundation and GoFundMe approached the food bank about the partnership in March.
“Obviously we were all ears,” Gulish said.
Steve Froehlich, chief customer growth officer at GoFundMe, said that last year food banks inspired more fundraisers on the platform than any other community cause.
“The #BurghProud Challenge is a powerful example of how community fundraising can turn local pride into real help,” Froehlich said in a Penguins news release.
The Steelers, Pirates and Penguins have held an annual BurghProud Thanksgiving meal distribution partnership with the food bank since 2021, providing meals to families in the community.
Gulish said it made sense to keep the BurghProud name since the three teams are providing promotional backing and incentives for the challenge.
Anyone who raises $25 will receive an official BurghProud T-shirt featuring logos from all three teams.
Individuals who raise $2,500 will receive access to one of three BurghProud experiences: two tickets to a Pittsburgh Pirates game with on-field batting practice access, a behind-the-scenes tour of the Steelers’ Acrisure Stadium, or a VIP practice experience with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Fundraisers who reach $5,000 or more will receive access to all three experiences.