WhyHunger Smashes Record, Raises Over $750K During 26th Annual Hungerthon

NEW YORK, Dec. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- 2011 marks a banner year for WhyHunger with the most successful Hungerthon in the annual event's 26-year history! Aided by its partners at SiriusXM, CBS Radio (including NYC's WFAN 660 and WCBS 880), and charitybuzz, WhyHunger raised a record $764,000 for the fight against hunger and poverty, via its online auction and two-day radiothon.

This year's top Hungerthon earners, some of which brought in bids over $20,000, included:

• Bruce Springsteen-autographed guitar
• Switchfoot concert at your home
• Taylor Swift-signed Baby Taylor Acoustic Guitar

"Fundraising for a hunger organization is never easy," said WhyHunger Co-Founder and Executive Director Bill Ayres. "But people do care that one in three Americans live in poverty or near poverty and that 49 million Americans - including 17 million children - and one billion people around the world are food insecure. We are thankful for all who helped."

Hungerthon.org received tens of thousands of visits from over 100 countries worldwide, and for the first time in Hungerthon history, social media played a critical role with 25 percent of all web traffic coming directly from Facebook. WhyHunger also received over $10,000 via text message donations (texting IMAGINE to 50555) through its ongoing "Imagine There's No Hunger" initiative with Yoko Ono Lennon and Hard Rock International.

To donate to Hungerthon or purchase Hard Rock John Lennon "Imagine There's No Hunger" holiday gifts, visit www.hungerthon.org.

If you know someone who is hungry, call WhyHunger's National Hunger Hotline at 1-866-3-HUNGRY to connect the person to emergency food in their neighborhood and all federal nutrition programs.

Hungerthon 2011 Radio Partners: CBS Radio Group (WCBS Newsradio 880, Sports Radio 660 WFAN, 1010 WINS, 101.1 WCBS-FM); SiriusXM Satellite Radio; Clear Channel Radio Group; Univision; 95.5 WPLJ; and WABC Talk Radio.

About WhyHunger

WhyHunger is a leader in building the movement to end hunger and poverty by connecting people to nutritious, affordable food and by supporting grassroots solutions that inspire self-reliance and community empowerment. Founded in 1975 by the late Harry Chapin & current Executive Director Bill Ayres, WhyHunger works to put an end to hunger suffered by 49 million Americans and nearly 1 billion people worldwide. WhyHunger's main programs include the National Hunger Hotline 1-866-3-HUNGRY, which refers individuals in need of emergency food assistance to soup kitchens, food banks, government nutrition programs & community organizations in their neighborhoods; the Grassroots Action Network, which provides information, networking opportunities, capacity building & access to over 8,000 anti-hunger & poverty community organizations across the United States and around the world; and Artists Against Hunger & Poverty which is supported by Bruce Springsteen, Michael McDonald, Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire, Joss Stone, Darryl McDaniels, Jackson Browne, O.A.R, and many others. For more information visit www.whyhunger.org.

Text IMAGINE to 50555 to give a $10 donation to WhyHunger. Msg/data rates may apply. Full Terms: mgive.org/T. Privacy Policy

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Elizabeth Lutz
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SOURCE WhyHunger