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 three years connected more than 3.5 million people to nutritious local food and invested $6.8 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.  

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 emergency 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.