MinerAlert
MinerAlert
December 2025
By Sandra Ramirez, ’08, ’21
Growing up in El Paso, Richard Ayoub ’81 said his goal in life was, in his own words, “to make a difference in his small part of the world.”
That goal took the UTEP broadcast journalism alumnus from an Emmy Award-winning journalism career to delivering meals in Los Angeles alongside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex.
While pursuing his bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism at UTEP, Ayoub started an internship at the local CBS affiliate in El Paso. It eventually led to a full-time position as an associate producer.
“My very first job ever was not working at Taco Bell or being a waiter but being an associate producer in TV,” Ayoub said. “It’s really fascinating when your dream comes true at such a young age.”
His journalism career took him to Tucson, Florida, and eventually Los Angeles, where he lives now. A decade ago, while working in an L.A. newsroom, a friend called to ask if he would consider serving as interim executive director of Project Angel Food.
“Broadcast journalism wasn’t feeding my soul enough anymore, and I kept asking myself, ‘Should I stop this and do something that makes the world a better place?’” he said.
Ayoub accepted the role and now celebrates 10 years with the organization. Project Angel Food was founded in 1989 in response to the AIDS crisis. Founder Marianne Williamson wanted to make sure people with AIDS did not die of loneliness or starvation. She found a church in West Hollywood where volunteers cooked meals and delivered them to people who were homebound.
“That human connection was really important to them, and the food was important,” Ayoub said.
Over the years, the program has expanded to serving thousands of people in Los Angeles County.
“We have evolved to helping people with heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, kidney failure, all forms of cancer and HIV,” Ayoub said. “All of the meals back then were comfort food. Today they’re medically tailored because food is medicine.”
During his tenure, Ayoub has used his television background to launch Project Angel Food’s “Lead with Love” telethon. The live television special was created in 2020 amid the pandemic.
“We couldn’t do in-person fundraisers anymore, but we still had to raise money,” Ayoub said. “I always loved the Jerry Lewis Telethon, so we did it, and now we have done six of them.”
The telethon has become a star-studded annual event with celebrities and musical performances that have raised millions of dollars for Project Angel Food over the years.
For some, life in Los Angeles is synonymous with running into Hollywood stars, and Ayoub has had his fair share of celebrity encounters.
“You know, I’m still that little boy from El Paso, Texas, and sometimes I’m like, ‘Oh my God, I’m doing a hardhat tour with Jamie Lee Curtis!’ — Annie Lennox came into our kitchen, and she’s thanking me and calling me a hero. It’s very humbling and beautiful,” Ayoub said.
Ayoub explained that Project Angel Food was the first charity where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle chose to volunteer in the United States.
“It’s very hard to disagree with feeding people who are sick, hungry and alone,” Ayoub said. “Anyone who helps us out is an angel, is an incredible person.”
Project Angel Food provides nearly 3,000 meals a day, and Ayoub shared that it is his mission to feed even more people. The organization is in the middle of a $51.5 million capital campaign that will include a kitchen renovation, construction of a second facility and a 30,000-square-foot campus. It is a goal the organization is close to reaching.
“My legacy will be Project Angel Food, and it will be this building,” Ayoub said.
Ayoub credits his UTEP education and his hometown of El Paso with his success.
“I’m proud of my college, and I’m proud of my career and trajectory,” Ayoub said, adding that his will includes a scholarship program for a broadcast journalism student at UTEP.