WhyHunger mourns the loss of our beloved co-founder, former Executive Director and Ambassador, Bill Ayres.
William J. Ayres lived a truly remarkable life, leaving 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 of seeking justice and serving others.
In 1963, Bill joined a quarter of a million people at Dr. King’s March on Washington, D.C., an event that forever shaped his understanding of race, justice, poverty and power. Over his lifetime, he participated in many more protests and marches for social justice. He attended St. John’s University for two years before studying philosophy and theology at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, N.Y. He remained a devoted St. John’s Red Storm basketball fan, attending games into his eighties.
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, launching a long and storied career on the airwaves. As host of “On This Rock,” Father Bill Ayres played rock music, interviewed guests, told stories, and seamlessly wove in lessons about faith, justice and compassion. Bill soon brought that same unique blend of storytelling and purpose to television when Charles Dolan gave him a platform on his pioneering Cablevision network.
When he fell in love with his future wife Jeannine, Bill left the active priesthood to build a life with her. His ministry of compassion and service didn’t end; it simply took a different form. Together, Bill and Jeannine raised two beloved daughters, Michelle and Suzanne Ayres, and their 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. Bill became 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. That encounter sparked a lifelong friendship and partnership with Springsteen, Jon Landau, and Barbara Carr that was rooted in a deep commitment to harnessing the power of music to end hunger.
Then, a serendipitous series of radio interviews, first with musician Tom Chapin and later with his brother Harry, changed the course of Bill’s life yet again.
After Bill and Harry connected on-air about their shared outrage over the growing crises of hunger and poverty, they decided to meet for dinner. Around the kitchen table, Bill, Harry and his wife, Sandy Chapin, sketched out a plan to make a lasting difference. In 1975, they founded the anti-hunger and social justice organization now known as WhyHunger.
A gentle visionary with steadfast conviction, Bill fiercely believed that hunger is solvable. He knew that making nutritious food a human right for all required digging deep to address hunger’s root causes. He also knew that local communities held the wisdom and power to solve it, if we could only learn to listen and follow their lead.
Guided by these principles, Bill and Harry created the first Hungerthon in 1975, a 24-hour radio show that raised funds and brought national attention to hunger, 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. Its national broadcasts have become synonymous with the Thanksgiving season, airing across the nation on SiriusXM, iHeartRadio New York, and CBS Radio New York/Audacy New York.
Bill’s belief in the power of music to drive change extended far beyond Hungerthon. He forged an innovative partnership with Hard Rock International and helped galvanize the “Imagine There’s No Hunger” campaign with Yoko Ono Lennon to expand access to healthy food for children around the world.
Together, Bill and Harry held numerous benefit concerts and opened a national policy office in Washington, D.C. Their advocacy drew steadfast bipartisan support from former Board Member Senator Patrick Leahy, D-VT, and Congressman Ben Gilman, R-NY, and helped lead to the creation of the first Presidential Hunger Commission, the first National Hunger Hotline, school meals, and millions of dollars in federal food and nutrition aid. Working side by side, Bill and Harry also helped start Long Island Cares and the Center for Food Action New Jersey.
When his dear friend Harry died tragically in 1981, Bill saw a promise that still had to be kept. He devoted the rest of his life to securing WhyHunger’s future and expanding its impact, serving as its Executive Director until his retirement in 2015. That year, as WhyHunger celebrated its 40th anniversary, Bill received the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
At WhyHunger’s 50th anniversary gala in 2025, Bill helped present the inaugural Bill Ayres Social Justice Award to CNN’s Laura Coates. This annual award honors individuals like Bill who are driven by moral conviction to unite communities, amplify marginalized voices and fight systemic injustice.
In 1998, Bill co-authored All You Need is Love: And 99 Other Life Lessons From Classic Rock Songs with his dear friend and radio colleague, Pete Fornatale. And in 2021, he wrote The Journey into the Mystery: Finding God in Your Everyday Life, which was formatted by his daughter, Suzanne Ayres.
Bill leaves us with an indelible legacy and a powerful example of what it means to live with purpose. His warmth, care and generosity left a mark on everyone he met. He taught us to listen before acting, to lead with hope, and to keep going even when the road ahead looms 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 and to witness what an open heart, a bold vision, and a relentless commitment to justice can make possible.
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.