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Making a Difference

Our founders, musician Harry Chapin and radio DJ Bill Ayres embraced music’s power to unite people, inspire action, and uplift communities when they formed WhyHunger around a kitchen table in 1975. Since then, decades of impactful partnerships across culture have emerged from the belief that nutritious food is a human right. In nearly 50 years, WhyHunger has been joined by musicians, chefs, actors, activists, humanitarians, and public figures who’ve spoken up about food justice.

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Bruce Springsteen & Tom Morello | photo credit: Michael Zorn

Bruce Springsteen & Tom Morello | photo credit: Michael Zorn

The Roots | photo credit: Getty Images Roy Rochlin

The Roots | photo credit: Getty Images Roy Rochlin

Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge | photo credit: Getty Images Roy Rochlin

Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge | photo credit: Getty Images Roy Rochlin

Artists Making Change

Building a Just, Hunger-Free World

A Legacy of Impact

Founding Mission (1975)

Founding Mission (1975)

WhyHunger was co-founded by Harry Chapin and Bill Ayres to address the root causes of hunger and poverty, emphasizing community empowerment and long-term solutions.
Policy Impact (1978+)

Policy Impact (1978+)

WhyHunger played a key role in establishing the Presidential Commission on World Hunger and the Congressional Hunger Caucus, with ongoing advocacy throughout its history.
Focus on the Grassroots (1980s)

Focus on the Grassroots (1980s)

WhyHunger has prioritized investing in grassroots leaders and organizations, providing training, technical assistance, and capacity-building.
Activating Artists & Hungerthon (1985s + )

Activating Artists & Hungerthon (1985s + )

Collaborations with Bruce Springsteen and the Artists Against Hunger & Poverty program began in 1985 and have raised over $xx million for anti-hunger initiatives. Later that year, WhyHunger launched its first ever Hungerthon, our annual campaign that raises money and awareness to end hunger in the U.S. by addressing its root causes.
National Hunger Hotline Established (1994)

National Hunger Hotline Established (1994)

WhyHunger advocated for the first National Hunger Hotline, created to connect millions of Americans to healthy food and emergency services in their community and ran by WhyHunger for decades.
Building Food Sovereignty (2000s)

Building Food Sovereignty (2000s)

WhyHunger joins other U.S. based organizations to start U.S. Food Sovereignty Alliance (USFSA) as a founding member. USFSA now boasts 42 member organizations (and growing) from around the U.S. working to end poverty, rebuild local food economies and assert democratic control over the food system.
Global Reach (2008-2010s)

Global Reach (2008-2010s)

Through the “Imagine There’s No Hunger” campaign, WhyHunger trained over 27,000 people in sustainable food-growing methods and delivered 9.7 million meals worldwide in partnership with Yoko Ono Lennon and Hard Rock International. This campaign evolved into our International Solidarity Fund, dedicated to supporting social movement organizations in creating resilient local food economies.
Right to Food (2016)

Right to Food (2016)

In 2016, we strengthened our framework around the right to food by collaborating with grassroots and national allies to transform the U.S. charitable hunger response into an equitable social justice movement that recognizes nutritious food as a human right.
Rapid Response (2017)

Rapid Response (2017)

In response to growing man-made and natural disasters around the world, WhyHunger formally activates our Rapid Response Fund, designed to provide immediate financial and logistical support to communities impacted by natural disasters, economic crises, or other emergencies that disrupt access to food.
WhyHunger advocates for the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health (2022)

WhyHunger advocates for the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health (2022)

WhyHunger celebrates a historic milestone for the food justice movement as the Biden Administration hosts the first White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in 50 years.
Amplified (2023)

Amplified (2023)

Celebrating the power of music to spark change, WhyHunger organizes its first ever Amplified! Hungerthon Kickoff Concert, uniting diverse artists to raise funds and awareness for community-based solutions to end hunger.

Hungerthon

Nourishing Tomorrow

WhyHunger’s Hungerthon is an annual educational and fundraising campaign that confronts the crisis of hunger in America. We raise $1Million annually to provide grassroots organizations across the U.S. with vital funding, training, and resources to tackle the root causes of hunger and nourish people. We partner with SiriusXM, iHeartRadio, Bruce Springsteen, Yoko Ono Lennon, and thousands of supporters every giving season who share our vision of a hunger-free future!

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It was 40 years ago when Harry Chapin was shouting to me below my motel room about WhyHunger. He left the world a much better place.”

Bruce Springsteen
Musician,
Founding Member of WhyHunger’s Artist Against Hunger & Poverty

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Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award

WhyHunger was founded in 1975 by musician and activist Harry Chapin. For nearly 50 years we’ve been connecting people to nutritious food and investing in community solutions that end hunger and the injustices that cause it. Each year at our gala, we recognize philanthropic artists who’ve followed in Harry’s footsteps, using their unique talents and global prominence to work for justice. Past honorees include Harry Belafonte, Barbra Streisand, Elvis Costello, Jon Batiste, Wyclef Jean, Jackson Browne, Tom Morello, Pete Seeger, Ashford & Simpson, Emmylou Harris, Judy Collins, Jason Mraz, John Mellencamp, Grace Potter, Yoko Ono Lennon, and many more. Each year we work with ASCAP to honor one of their member’s exemplary work with the ASCAP Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award.

Artists Activities

Play On!

In the wake of COVID-19, WhyHunger teamed up with SixDegrees.org, CBS and the NAACP Legal Defense & Educational Fund, Inc. for PLAY ON, a concert broadcast amplifying awareness for transformational racial, social and food justice. Together, we raised more than $7 Million with host Kevin Bacon and Eve,and performances by Bon Jovi, LL COOL J, Ziggy Marley, Maren Morris, Sheryl Crow, Jon Batiste, Sara Bareilles, Emily King and more.

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Events

Mark your calendar and make a real impact by joining us for some of our exciting events!

Young Professionals Group

Young leaders raising awareness through fundraising, social, and volunteer activities.

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Our Partners

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New Project (20)
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New Project (19)
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Nourish People, Nourish the Planet

2025 Impacts

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2.1M PEOPLE CONNECTED

to healthy food and essential services in their communities.

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$1.3M Mobilized

in grants to social movements and community-based organizations.

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10 Countries

supported after disasters with food, housing, supplies and seeds.

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59 organizations

and movements funded and supported to advance food justice.
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Solutions to Hunger Rooted in Community

We believe that transforming our food systems starts in the community. We fund, connect, and resource grassroots organizations to build healthier food systems for all people and the environment. Learn more about how we champion local food access from seed to market to plate.

About WhyHunger