2009 marked the inaugural year of GMA Gustavo Dantas’s GD Jiu-Jitsu Food Drive in conjunction with United Food Bank, a non-profit organization responsible for distributing food donations to over 240 agencies such as churches, youth and senior programs, crisis centers, and soup kitchens. 523 pounds of food was collected over three of the Nova União Arizona leader’s events, the 1st AZ Kids Cup, 2009 AZ BJJ State Championship, and the 1st Southwest Classic, equating to 409 meals on the tables of people in need.
Dantas says GD Jiu-Jitsu Events plans to continue working with the United Food Bank to bring in even more food in 2010. The next opportunity to donate food will be at the 5th Arizona International Open of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu at Westwood High School in Mesa, AZ on March 13-14, 2010.