WhyHunger mourns the loss of our beloved co-founder, former Executive Director and Ambassador, Bill Ayres.
William J. Ayres lived a truly remarkable life and leaves behind a profound legacy of love, compassion, community and enduring hope. Born on January 14, 1941, Bill credited his grandmother with teaching him to keep an open heart and to “try and see the good in everyone.” That early foundation set him on a lifelong path in pursuit of justice and continuous acts of kindness.
In 1963, Bill joined a quarter of a million people at Dr. King’s March on Washington, an event that forever shaped his perspectives on race, justice, poverty and power. Over his lifetime, he participated in several other protests and marches for economic and racial justice. He attended St. John’s University for two years and then studied philosophy and theology at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, N.Y. He remained a lifelong St. John’s Red Storm basketball fan, attending games into his 80s.
Deeply moved by his faith, Bill answered the call to become a Roman Catholic priest in 1966 and served in two parishes over 13 years, embracing a life of service. In 1968, the Diocese of Rockville Centre on Long Island asked Bill to host a local Sunday radio show, starting a long, storied career in radio. As host of “On This Rock” Father Bill Ayres chose to play rock music, interview guests and tell stories, weaving in lessons about faith, justice and compassion seamlessly. Bill’s unique blend of storytelling and message found a home on TV when Charles Dolan gave him a platform on his pioneering Cablevision network. When he fell in love with his future wife Jeannine, he left the active priesthood to build a life with her, raising two beloved daughters Michelle and Suzanne Ayres, and his cherished granddaughter Jaida Blatt. For 40 years, he hosted “The Bill Ayres Show” on WPLJ- FM, a late night call-in radio show where he played music and offered advice to young people, serving as the longest-running continuous host on the station before broadcasting his final live show in May 2019.
Radio brought together Bill’s love of music, storytelling, faith and rock n’ roll. He was the first person to interview Bruce Springsteen on Network Radio, beginning a lifelong friendship and partnership with Springsteen, Jon Landau and Barbara Carr to make the world a better place. And it was a serendipitous series of radio interviews with musicians Tom Chapin, and then his brother Harry Chapin that changed the course of his life yet again.
After Bill and Harry connected on-air about their shared outrage at the growing issues of hunger and poverty, they decided to meet for dinner. Around the kitchen table, Bill, Harry and his wife Sandy Chapin came up with a plan to make a lasting difference, and in 1975 they started the anti-hunger and social justice organization now known as WhyHunger.
A gentle visionary with steadfast conviction, Bill championed the firm belief that hunger is solvable and that we must get to the root of injustice in order to assure the most basic human right to food for all people. He knew that local leaders and communities are the best architects of the solutions they need and that we all have a role to play.
Guided by these principles, Bill and Harry created the first Hungerthon in 1975, a 24-hour radio show to raise money and provide exposure for the issue, alongside radio DJ Pete Fornatale and general manager Mel Karmazin at WNEW-FM. Now in its 41st year, the Hungerthon campaign has raised tens of millions of dollars through radiothons, concerts, and community action via national broadcasts synonymous with Thanksgiving time and has touched the airwaves of SiriusXM, iHeart Radio New York, CBS Radio New York/ Audacy New York. He is remembered for his pioneering relationship with Hard Rock International and galvanizing the “Imagine There’s No Hunger” campaign with Yoko Ono Lennon helping children around the world. He believed in the power of music to make the work more just and fair for everyone.
Together, Bill and Harry held numerous concerts to raise funds and awareness, and opened a national policy office in D.C. to advocate for change with the steadfast bi-partisan support of former Board Member Senator Patrick Leahy, D-VT and Congressman Ben Gilman R-NY. Their efforts helped lead to the creation of the first Presidential Hunger Commission, the first National Hunger Hotline, the creation of school meals and millions of dollars in federal food and nutrition aid over the years. Always at each other’s side, they helped start Long Island Cares and the Center for Food Action New Jersey.
When his dear friend Harry passed tragically in 1981, Bill stepped in and committed the rest of his life to ensuring WhyHunger’s impact, serving as its Executive Director until he retired at WhyHunger’s 40th anniversary celebration, earning WhyHunger’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. At WhyHunger’s 50th anniversary gala in 2025, Bill was there to help WhyHunger confer the inaugural Bill Ayres Social Justice Award to CNN’s Laura Coates. The annual award honors individuals, like Bill, who are driven by moral conviction to unite communities, amplify marginalized voices, and fight systemic injustice.
He is the co-author of the book All You Need is Love: And 99 Other Life Lessons From Classic Rock Songs in 1998 with his dear friend and radio colleague Pete Fornatale, and authored the book The Journey Into the Mystery: Finding God in Your Everyday Life, formatted by his daughter Suzanne Ayres, in 2021.
Bill leaves us all with an indelible legacy and an example of what it means to live a life of meaning and impact. His warmth, care and generosity left a mark on all those he met. He taught us to listen before acting, to lead with hope, and to keep going even when the road ahead loomed long and difficult. Those of us who knew Bill, worked alongside him, or called him a friend were lucky to be part of his story.
Our hearts are with his wife, Jeannine, Bill’s family and friends, the Chapin family, and the extraordinary community of people he brought together around this mission.