El Pollo Loco® Partners with WNBA Star Arike Ogunbowale to Support School Sports Teams Nationwide
MWN-AI** Summary
El Pollo Loco®, the leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant chain in the U.S., has announced a partnership with WNBA star Arike Ogunbowale to launch the "Bring the Fire" contest, an initiative aimed at supporting school sports teams nationwide. This exciting initiative, funded by the El Pollo Loco Foundation, will provide financial assistance to young athletes by awarding five school sports teams with $2,000 each to refresh their athletic gear, equipment, and facilities. The contest, which is live until February 19, 2026, invites participants to submit videos nominating their team, detailing the reasons they deserve the funds and how they would utilize the prize money. Winners will be announced in mid-March 2026 through El Pollo Loco's Instagram account.
Ogunbowale expressed her enthusiasm about the initiative, highlighting the importance of sports for building confidence and community among young athletes. She noted that many schools lack the necessary resources to maintain athletic programs, which can hinder participation and success. The contest follows a recent visit where Ogunbowale surprised the girls' basketball team at Lancaster High School in Texas, showcasing her commitment to uplift underserved youth and promote the love of sports.
Jill Adams, Chief Marketing Officer at El Pollo Loco, emphasized the company's dedication to supporting local communities. The collaboration with Ogunbowale aligns with the foundation's mission to enhance the youth experience in various regions where the chain operates. With over 500 locations across the U.S. and a focus on delivering quality, healthy meals, El Pollo Loco continues to expand its community impact through initiatives like "Bring the Fire." For more details on how to participate, interested individuals can visit ElPolloLoco.com/BringtheFire.
MWN-AI** Analysis
El Pollo Loco's partnership with WNBA star Arike Ogunbowale highlights an innovative approach to community engagement and brand marketing that could have positive implications for the company's market position. This initiative not only aligns with corporate social responsibility (CSR) trends but also leverages the increasing market interest in supporting youth and educational programs.
The "Bring the Fire" contest will serve to strengthen El Pollo Loco's brand image as a community-focused company, enhancing customer loyalty and potentially driving sales. Engaging with high school sports teams creates a direct connection with families, which could broaden the customer base to include supporters of these programs. By integrating social media participation with the contest, El Pollo Loco harnesses user-generated content, thus increasing organic engagement and reach, especially among younger demographics who are active on platforms like Instagram.
From an investment perspective, companies that prioritize community involvement often enjoy enhanced public perception and customer retention, which are critical for long-term profitability. This initiative could result in increased foot traffic to El Pollo Loco locations, as parents and athletes may favor brands that actively invest in their communities.
Furthermore, aligning the brand with a respected and accomplished athlete like Ogunbowale not only adds credibility but also leverages her influence in promoting health and fitness. This association is particularly appealing in a market where consumers are increasingly health-conscious and supportive of women's sports.
In summary, El Pollo Loco's strategic partnership with Ogunbowale is poised to boost brand engagement and community goodwill, creating additional avenues for revenue growth. Stakeholders should watch for the outcomes of this initiative, as its success could signal further expansion in community-based marketing strategies. This is a positive development to consider for those analyzing El Pollo Loco’s strategic positioning and potential for growth in the coming years.
**MWN-AI Summary and Analysis is based on asking OpenAI to summarize and analyze this news release.
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 $2,000 toward helping the team refresh their gear, equipment and/or facilities to continue building strong athletic programs. The contest is now live nationwide and runs through February 19, 2026, with winners announced mid-March 2026 on El Pollo Loco’s Instagram.
“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 $10,000 donation on behalf of El Pollo Loco Foundation to support the school’s girls basketball program. The excitement from the visit sparked the idea of El Pollo Loco’s “Bring the Fire” contest, allowing the brand and foundation to support even more school sports teams nationwide.
“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
FAQ**
How does El Pollo Loco Holdings Inc. LOCO plan to measure the success of the “Bring the Fire” contest in uplifting school sports teams across the country?
What criteria will El Pollo Loco Holdings Inc. LOCO and Arike Ogunbowale use to select the winning school sports teams for the “Bring the Fire” contest?
How does partnering with Arike Ogunbowale align with El Pollo Loco Holdings Inc. LOCO's brand values and community support initiatives?
What are the long-term goals for the El Pollo Loco Foundation beyond the “Bring the Fire” contest in supporting youth sports and community engagement?
**MWN-AI FAQ is based on asking OpenAI questions about El Pollo Loco Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: LOCO).
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