WhyHunger’s Amplified: Annual Hungerthon Kickoff Concert Presented By EY & Hosted By Roy Wood Jr.
Electrified NYC’s Irving Plaza With Performances By The Roots, Grace Bowers + Cimafunk
Raising Essential Funds to End Hunger & Related Injustice
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October 16, 2024 - WhyHunger - a non-profit organization working to end hunger and the injustices that cause it - held its 2nd annual Amplified concert Presented by EY on October 15 at NY’s Irving Plaza, kicking off its 39th annual Hungerthon fund-raising and education campaign.
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Hosted by comedian Roy Wood Jr., the evening’s musical talent featured iconic Grammy Award winners and Tonight Show house band The Roots, award-winning 18-year-old guitarist, songwriter and bandleader Grace Bowers and her band The Hodge Podge, as well as Cuban “international funk champion” (NY Times) Cimafunk - captivating the audience with sets across funk, hip hop, blues, and soul.
Founded by the late singer/songwriter Harry Chapin and radio DJ Bill Ayers in 1975, WhyHunger has music in its DNA. Honoring its origins, the organization harnesses the power of music to fuel the food justice movement. The 2nd annual Amplified event raised a gross total of $545,000 to support WhyHunger’s ongoing work to end hunger and protect the human right to nutritious food. More than 91% of funds raised will support community-based solutions for people in need across America.
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iHeartRadio served as the Amplified 2024’s Premier Audio Partner, including on-air, digital, and social promotion on six iHeartRadio New York stations including 710 WOR, Z100, 103.5 KTU, Q104.3, Power 105.1 and 106.7 LITE FM.
Jenique Jones, WhyHunger Executive Director, said “Our 2nd Amplified concert was a dynamic celebration of the unique power of music and community to drive social change. An unforgettable kickoff to our Hungerthon campaign, the support of these artists, sponsors and fans will enable us to address the pressing challenges of food insecurity at a grassroots level, and to confront the broader social and economic causes of food injustice.”
Grace Bowers remarked, “Supporting The Roots for such an amazing cause like WhyHunger was a true privilege. We’re thrilled about the impact we made together, raising both money and awareness for community-led solutions that help feed those in need today and end hunger for tomorrow.”
Cimafunk added, “It’s been an honor to be part of such a powerful night with WhyHunger, The Roots, Roy Wood Jr. and Grace Bowers. Coming together for a cause like this—where we can help fuel community solutions and make a real difference—is what it’s all about.”
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Amplified kicks off WhyHunger’s annual Hungerthon, a campaign that educates people across the U.S. and raises critical funds to end hunger in America. Launched as a radio-driven Thanksgiving tradition in 1975, Hungerthon hits airways across the nation this November through partnerships with SiriusXM and iHeartRadio NY. It has raised tens of millions of dollars to tackle the root of hunger in America and ensure everyone’s basic human right to nutritious food.
Visit https://hungerthon.org/about.html
About WhyHunger
WhyHunger was founded in 1975 by the late musician Harry Chapin and Radio DJ Bill Ayres on the fundamental belief that access to nutritious food is a human right and hunger is a solvable problem in a world of abundance. What began as a simple commitment between two friends to make a difference has grown into a global non-profit, celebrating 49 years of supporting social movements and grassroots innovation to change the systems, policies, and institutions that perpetuate hunger and poverty in our world.
The organization has invested in community-led solutions that equip people to nourish themselves. It provides funding, training, and other resources to grassroots organizations across the United States and in 23 countries, championing local control of food access from seed to market to plate. WhyHunger over the last four years connected more than 4.6 million people to nutritious local food and invested $8.1 million globally to support sustainable agriculture and effective solutions to hunger. Since its start, WhyHunger’s Artists Against Hunger & Poverty program has engaged countless musicians and raised millions for WhyHunger’s community-based partners and programs.
Visit https://whyhunger.org/
About WhyHunger Executive Director Jenique Jones
Jenique Jones guides the strategic direction of the organization - ensuring that its policies, culture, and practices fulfill WhyHunger’s mission. With a diverse background in government and nonprofits including the New York State Senate and the NYC Department of Education, Jenique came to WhyHunger after 14 years at one of the largest food rescue organizations, City Harvest. As its Vice President of Program Operations and Policy, she oversaw the distribution of tens of millions of pounds of food to soup kitchens, food pantries, and community food programs throughout New York City. Jenique has been steadfast in her efforts to improve the lives of marginalized and underserved populations and make a difference in the world.
Jenique has responded to numerous emergencies and disaster situations. Extending her role at City Harvest and as a member of Feeding America, she spearheaded the distribution of over 500 million pounds of food in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She also oversaw infrastructure projects to rebuild after Superstorm Sandy and supported food banks in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Jenique excels in defining strategies that align with WhyHunger’s vision and drive programmatic growth. A native New Yorker, Jenique lives in Brooklyn, NY with her wife, Kayla.