WhyHunger Adds Radiolab Founder Jad Abumrad As Bill Ayres Social Justice Award Recipient At Chapin Awards Gala in NYC on May 6
Andra Day to Perform & Receive Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award
April 14, 2026 – WhyHunger, a global nonprofit dedicated to ending hunger and advancing the human right to nutritious food, will honor 3x Peabody Award winner, MacArthur Fellow, and Radiolab founder Jad Abumrad with the Bill Ayres Social Justice Award at WhyHunger’s Chapin Awards Gala on May 6, 2026, at Cipriani 25 in New York City — tickets here. The award, named in tribute to WhyHunger co-founder Bill Ayres, honors those who are driven by moral conviction to unite communities and fight for justice.
GRAMMY® and Golden Globe Award-winning, Oscar-nominated singer/songwriter, activist, and acclaimed actress Andra Day will also perform and be honored with the Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award for using her public voice and artistry to advocate for a more just, equitable world.
Jad Abumrad is the creative force behind Radiolab and acclaimed podcasts like Dolly Parton’s America and Peabody Award-winning Fela Kuti: Fear No Man – work that has been downloaded over one billion times and is deeply rooted in amplifying the stories of marginalized communities, shining a light on the injustice and systemic issues that drive hunger. Dubbed a “master of the radio craft,” he’s known for his ability to make complex ideas feel personal and accessible. His honors include four Peabody Awards, two DuPont Awards, and the 2011 MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship. He is currently a Distinguished Professor of Research at Vanderbilt University.
Andra Day is a powerful singer and artful songwriter whose roots in gospel, jazz and the blues translate to the present with ease and finesse. Featuring the quadruple platinum single “Rise Up,” her auspicious debut album Cheers to the Fall (2015) cracked the Top 10 of the R&B/Hip-Hop charts and paved the way for a handful of Grammy nominations & win, plus an Academy Award nomination for “Stand Up for Something” (2017) from the Marshall soundtrack. Following her Golden Globe-winning portrayal of Billie Holiday in The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021), Day’s second album of original material CASSANDRA (cherith) in 2024 moves smoothly across traditional and progressive R&B, orchestral pop, and bossa nova. Day’s participation in the 2020 PlayOn televised benefit concert helped raise over $7 million to support WhyHunger and the NAACP LDF. Beyond hunger, Day’s charitable work has championed social and racial justice, gender equality, girls’ and women’s rights, Elton John AIDS Foundation, and advocating for juvenile justice system reform. Andra shares:
“‘Rise Up’ began as a personal reminder to keep going when the world feels heavy, and I never imagined it would become an anthem for resilience and justice. To me, justice isn’t abstract — it means no one goes hungry, every child has nourishment, and every community has hope. If this song has helped even one person have more compassion or be healed, I’m grateful.”
The Chapin Awards Gala will bring together artists, activists, and supporters for a cocktail reception, dinner, and live music, all in support of WhyHunger’s mission to end hunger and its root causes. Previous event honorees have included Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Barbra Streisand, Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris, Grace Potter, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Harry Belafonte, Jackson Browne, Jason Mraz, John Mellencamp, Jon Batiste, Judy Collins, Pete Seeger, and Tom Morello. The 2026 Chapin Awards is sponsored by Bloomberg Philanthropies, Collection 18 and the Secunda Family Foundation.
In 2025, WhyHunger celebrated 50 years of impact and raised $1.4 million from its 40th Annual Hungerthon fundraiser involving Bruce Springsteen, Chef Marcus Samuelsson, SAINt JHN, Yola, Young the Giant & more. In the last five years, WhyHunger has connected 6.6 million people to food and invested $9.6 million in community-led solutions globally. The nonprofit works in the United States and 24 countries around the globe to end hunger and advance the human right to nutritious food for all.
To learn more about WhyHunger and how you can support the movement to end hunger, explore whyhunger.org, and follow on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, TikTok, and X.
About Jad Abumrad
Jad Abumrad is a composer, artist and journalist and the creator of Radiolab, Dolly Parton’s America, Fela Kuti: Fear No Man, and many other podcasts which collectively have been downloaded over a billion times. He’s been called a “master of the radio craft” for his unique ability to combine cutting edge sound-design, cinematic storytelling and impersonal approach to explaining complex topics, from the stochasticity of tumor cells to the mathematics of morality. Jad studied creative writing and music composition at Oberlin College in Ohio. He composed much of the music for Radiolab, and has composed music for film, theater and dance. Jad has received four Peabody Awards, the highest honor in broadcasting and two DuPont Awards. And in 2011, he received the prestigious MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship. He’s currently a Distinguished Professor of Research at Vanderbilt University.
About Andra Day
Andra Day is an Emmy® Award-winning, GRAMMY® Award-winning, Golden Globe® Award-winning, and Academy Award®-nominated singer, songwriter, actress, and activist whose influence transcends music, film, and culture. A generational talent, her voice and presence have proven to be powerful forces for impact and inspiration. In her very first on-screen acting role, Andra captivated audiences and critics alike with her portrayal of the legendary Billie Holiday in The United States vs. Billie Holiday. Her emotionally raw and transformative performance made her only the second Black actress in history to win the Golden Globe® for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama. She also earned an Academy Award® nomination for Best Actress and took home a GRAMMY® for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media. Following her breakout acting success, Andra won a Children and Family EMMY® Award for her work as a writer and performer in We The People, and continued to expand her screen presence with powerful performances.
Most recently, she starred in the Netflix hit The Deliverance, which debuted at number 1 on Netflix’s Top 10 and added to her growing acclaim as an actress. She also starred alongside Andre Holland and Aunjunue Ellis in the critically acclaimed Exhibiting Forgiveness. Next up, she is sharing the screen with Bradley Cooper, Laura Dern, and Will Arnett in Is This Thing On?, directed by Bradley Cooper. She will also portray the iconic goddess Athena in the Disney+ series Percy Jackson and the Olympians. On the music front, Andra’s voice first reached a global audience with her 4x platinum anthem “Rise Up” from her debut album Cheers to the Fall. That debut earned two GRAMMY® nominations and introduced a powerful new voice in R&B and soul. In 2024, she returned with CASSANDRA (Cherith) to widespread acclaim from The New York Times, People, W Magazine, and more. She continues to make history with performances like her stirring rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” during the Super Bowl LVIII pregame show and remains deeply committed to activism—supporting organizations like Global Citizen, The Kering Foundation, Faith Moves Only No Fear and GiveDirectly. With more music, more films, and more impact on the horizon, Andra Day’s voice—and her presence—will continue to shape culture for years to come.
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 25 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.
