Aztecs Rock Hunger breaks annual fundraising record in fight against food insecurity
In its 15th year, Aztecs Rock Hunger broke its record for donations raised to support the SDSU Economic Crisis Response Team, A.S. Food Pantry and The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank.
Propelled by an aim to help those experiencing food insecurity on campus and in the community, San Diego State University’s annual Aztecs Rock Hunger (ARH) campaign set a fundraising record of $114,567 for 2025.
Revealed Dec. 11 in a festive event at the Lee & Frank Goldberg Courtyard of Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union, the 15th annual campaign by Associated Students (A.S.), held from Oct. 27 to Nov. 30, surpassed the previous record of $109,676 set in 2022. ARH has raised more than $1 million since launching in 2010.
This year’s ARH campaign coincided with a period during which many were struggling to meet basic needs due to the government shutdown and delayed SNAP benefits. Proceeds benefit the SDSU Economic Crisis Response Team, A.S. Food Pantry and The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank. In its most recent Food and Housing Survey, the California Student Aid Commission reported that two-thirds of the state’s college students who applied for financial aid were food insecure.
“Serving as the chair of Aztecs Rock Hunger was my way of giving back to a community that has supported me throughout my journey at SDSU and ensuring that every student has the foundation they need to succeed,” said A.S. Vice President of Financial Affairs Aliza Siddiqui. “Together, we created a campaign rooted in real meals, real relief and real support for our SDSU community.”
This year’s campaign centered around student engagement and connecting with all corners of SDSU’s campus. For the first time, ARH expanded to include SDSU Imperial Valley, which raised nearly $1,500 at its Calexico and Brawley campuses. In addition, ARH received a Certificate of Recognition from California State Assemblymember Chris Ward, D-San Diego, to honor its continued commitment to fighting food and nutrition insecurity.
"Aztecs Rock Hunger demonstrates the true spirit of what it means to be an Aztec: to lead with heart, purpose and impact," said SDSU President Adela de la Torre. "Fifteen years and more than a million dollars raised are incredible milestones that reflect the compassion and generosity of our students, faculty, staff, alumni and community partners. I could not be more proud of our SDSU community.”
ARH hosted various events to help students and the hundreds of thousands of Southern Californians currently facing food insecurity. This year’s campaign included events such as Splash for a Cause and Pie-rates for a Purpose, nods to the campaign’s pirate theme, with opportunities to dunk and throw pies at SDSU student leaders and campus figures, including football head coach Sean Lewis and women’s basketball head coach Stacie Terry.
“As an international student and someone who has experienced financial barriers firsthand, I understand how deeply basic needs impact a student’s ability to learn, focus and feel secure,” Siddiqui said. “That perspective is what drove my passion for this campaign.”
In tandem with the SDSU community coming together to support ARH, local businesses in the College Area also partnered with the campaign for the first-ever Friendsgiving with Aztecs Rock Hunger event. Over 230 students received free meals, with donations coming from SDSU Catering, SciEats, Cheba Hut “Toasted” Subs, Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream and more.
Twenty percent of the funds raised by ARH will benefit the SDSU Economic Crisis Response Team (ECRT), which aims to bridge the gap in resources for students experiencing immediate food, housing or unforeseen financial crises. During the 2024-25 academic year, ECRT distributed $28,000 in emergency food-related support to students in need.
Beyond the SDSU campus, the funds will also support The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, which distributed 50 million pounds of food last year and continues to serve 400,000 San Diegans monthly. Through ARH’s longstanding partnership with the San Diego Food Bank, ARH also supports SDSU’s A.S. Food Pantry, a service for students that provides free, nutritious food such as fresh produce and pantry staples. Now in its 10th year of operation, the A.S. Food Pantry distributed over 155,000 pounds of food in the last academic year.
“It has been incredibly rewarding to watch Aztecs Rock Hunger grow in both reach and creativity, and the leadership from students and campus partners continues to impress me," said Casey Castillo, CEO of The Jacobs and Cushman San Diego Food Bank. “This campaign reflects the strength of SDSU’s community—people coming together, honoring a tradition of service, and choosing to look out for one another.”
For those interested in continuing to support the cause or for more information, visit the Aztecs Rock Hunger website.
RELATED: Additional SDSU efforts to address food security are ongoing, including the Better Food Futures NextGen research projects and internships, and the Social Venture Challenge. Students who apply for the pitch competition by Dec. 12 can pitch their solutions to address food insecurity and compete for $35,000 in cash prizes. Sponsored by the Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation, the 2025 event pitches included high-iron popsicles, nutrient-dense shakes, and apps intended to build a more circular food system and reduce food waste.
