Chef Marcus Samuelsson & More Raised $447K at WhyHunger’s 2nd Annual Hungerthon Hustle 4.7K on Giving Tuesday At NYC’s Citi Field
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Photo Credit: Luisanna Tejada
NEW YORK – December 3, 2025 – WhyHunger, a global nonprofit working to end hunger and the injustices that cause it, held its 2nd annual Hungerthon Hustle yesterday at NYC’s Citi Field on Giving Tuesday, December 2, 2025, raising $447,300. Co-host Chef Marcus Samuelsson kicked off the event with opening remarks, joined participants to run the course, and presented the winning prize during the post-run celebration. Mr. and Mrs. Met were also onsite for photo opportunities and joined in the race.
Co-chaired by EY Metro New York Office Managing Partner & 33-time marathon runner Alysia Steinmann, the 4.7K benefit run/walk distance reflected the 47.7 million Americans facing food insecurity, with the goal of shrinking the number and distance each year. The 2025 Hungerthon Hustle was sponsored by Bloomberg Philanthropies, SiriusXM, EY, Boost Mobile, and Wonder with venue sponsor Citi Field.
The Hungerthon Hustle was just one part of WhyHunger’s 40th Annual Hungerthon fundraiser and awareness campaign. Longstanding radio partners SiriusXM and iHeartMedia New York, artist ambassadors like Bruce Springsteen, Yoko Ono Lennon and SAINt JHN, as well as supporters are helping to end hunger and champion the right to nutritious food for all through Hungerthon events, celebrity auctions running through December 9th, partnerships and more. Donations accepted at Hungerthon.org.
“It is incredible to be surrounded by so many New Yorkers who showed up today at Citi Field – and all those ‘hustling’ virtually – for something bigger than a race. Mobilizing our community to ensure that every person has access to nutritious, culturally relevant food — and the long-term solutions that make that access permanent,” said Jenique Jones, WhyHunger’s executive director.
“Despite challenging weather, this year’s Hungerthon Hustle was a tremendous success thanks to the unwavering spirit of our community, sponsors and hundreds of participants. Every step taken and every dollar raised fuels community-based food programs and grassroots leaders who are not only responding to hunger — they are changing the systems that cause it. This is how real progress happens: together.”
L-R: Marcus Samuelsson, Mr. & Mrs. Mets stretching with runners
Photo Credit: Luisanna Tejada
For four decades, WhyHunger’s Hungerthon has been an engine powering community solutions to hunger that work. Last year’s campaign raised more than $1 million through celebrity involvement, auctions, and merchandise. For more information on this year’s Hungerthon, visit Hungerthon.org and join the conversation on social media using #Hungerthon. In the last five years, WhyHunger has connected 5.3 million people to food and invested $10.8 million in community-led solutions globally. The nonprofit works in 24 countries around the globe to end hunger and advance the human right to nutritious food for all.
Chef Marcus Samuelsson with WhyHunger team and Mr. & Mrs. Met
Photo Credit: Luisanna Tejada
Coming up is the Hungerthon Benefit Docu-Concert celebrating WhyHunger’s 50th Anniversary at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ on December 14, with performances from Little Steven & The Disciples of Soul with Marc Ribler, Sameer Gadhia & Eric Cannata from Young the Giant, Yola, Jim Babjak & Dennis Diken of The Smithereens, Steve Chapin & the Original Harry Chapin Band featuring Tom Chapin & Jen Chapin, special guest Danny Clinch and more.
Sponsored by Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City and the Hard Rock Heals Foundation, the evening will include a special performance of Harry Chapin’s classic “Cat’s in the Cradle” and footage between sets from the film Harry Chapin: When in Doubt, Do Something and new documentary Harry Chapin – Cat’s In the Cradle: The Song that Changed Our Lives, as well as an Artist Summit on hunger and poverty across the street before the concert at the Transparent Clinch Gallery.
If you or someone you know needs assistance finding healthy meals, visit whyhunger.org/findfood, call the WhyHunger Hotline at 1(800) 5-HUNGRY, or text your zip code to 1-800-548-6479.
To learn more about WhyHunger and how you can support the movement to end hunger, visit whyhunger.org and follow on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X and TikTok.
About WhyHunger
Founded in 1975 by the late Harry Chapin and radio DJ Bill Ayres, WhyHunger funds and supports community solutions to protect the human right to food. In nearly five decades of innovation and evolution, our programs and our grassroots partners in 24 countries have expanded agricultural practices that are better for the planet, helped communities address the root causes of hunger, and ensured access to nutritious food for millions of people. As a grassroots support organization, we stand behind the leadership of the people most impacted by hunger and injustice. We prioritize providing resources to support the rights of communities who have been historically excluded from defining and controlling their food systems. We advocate for workers’ rights and champion agroecological food production that unites science and sustainability with Indigenous knowledge and wisdom. Together we can build socially and economically just food systems that nourish all people and the environment.
Chef Marcus Samuelsson
Marcus Samuelsson is the esteemed chef behind many restaurants worldwide, including Red Rooster Harlem and Red Rooster Overtown in Miami; Hav & Mar in the Chelsea Arts District; Metropolis at the Perelman Performing Arts Center in lower Manhattan; “Marcus” restaurants in Atlanta and New Jersey, plus several international locations. Samuelsson was the youngest person ever to receive a three-star review from The New York Times. He has won eight James Beard Foundation Awards and was the guest chef for the Obama Administration’s first state dinner. In 2023, Marcus earned an Emmy Award for the Short Form Program “My Mark.” He is a longstanding judge and TV personality on the hit Food Network show Chopped, head judge of Top Chef: Family Style, and an Iron Chef on Netflix’s rebooted Iron Chef: Quest for an Iron Legend. He is the author of multiple books including The New York Times bestseller Yes, Chef: A Memoir, as well as the critically acclaimed The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food. To complement his professional commitments, Samuelsson is co-chair of Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP), which focuses on helping underserved youth. He participates in lectures globally, most recently with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and The New York Times during Climate Week NYC 2024.
About SiriusXM
SiriusXM is the leading audio entertainment company in North America with a portfolio of audio businesses including its flagship subscription entertainment service SiriusXM; the ad-supported and premium music streaming services of Pandora; an expansive podcast network; and a suite of business and advertising solutions. Reaching a combined monthly audience of approximately 170 million listeners, SiriusXM offers a broad range of content for listeners everywhere they tune in with a diverse mix of live, on-demand, and curated programming across music, talk, news, and sports. For more about SiriusXM, please go to: www.siriusxm.com
About iHeartMedia New York
iHeartMedia New York owns and operates WHTZ-FM, WKTU-FM, WLTW-FM, WWPR-FM, WAXQ-FM, WOR-AM, New York’s Black Information Network, WWRL-AM, and is part of iHeartMedia. iHeartMedia, Inc. [Nasdaq: IHRT] is the leading audio media company in America, with nine out of ten Americans listening to iHeart broadcast radio every month. iHeart’s broadcast radio assets alone have a larger audience in the U.S. than any other media outlet; twice the size of the next largest broadcast radio company; and over four times the ad-enabled audience of the largest digital only audio service. iHeart is the largest podcast publisher according to Podtrac, with more downloads than the next two podcast publishers combined, has the most recognizable live events across all genres of music, has the number one social footprint among audio players, with five times more followers than the next audio media brand, and is the only fully integrated audio ad tech solution across broadcast, streaming and podcasts. The company continues to leverage its strong audience connection and unparalleled consumer reach to build new platforms, products and services. Visit iHeartMedia.com for more company information.
About Charitybuzz
Charitybuzz is the world’s leading impact marketplace for once-in-a-lifetime experiences, exclusive items and unmatched access. Through its premier online auction platform, upscale shopping experience, private concierge business, corporate hospitality, and sweepstakes program, Charitybuzz brings dreams to life and helps charities thrive. In addition to incredible luxury travel, VIP event experiences, and rare memorabilia and collectibles, Charitybuzz features exclusive access to the world’s most influential personalities – George Clooney, Beyoncé, Eddie Vedder, Warren Buffett, Olivia Rodrigo, Sir Paul McCartney, Tim Cook, Meryl Streep, and more. A portion of each Charitybuzz purchase is contributed to a charity. Partners include WhyHunger, ACLU, MusiCares, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and thousands more. To learn more, please visit www.charitybuzz.com
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