Article Contributed by Shore Fire Media
Published on 2026-11-02
WhyHunger, a global nonprofit working to end hunger and the injustices that cause it, kicked off its 41st Annual Hungerthon fundraiser and awareness campaign today. This fall, supporters can help end hunger and champion the right to nutritious food for all through Hungerthon events, auctions, partnerships, exclusive merchandise and more.
Hungerthon Hustle: On November 7, WhyHunger will hold the 3rd annual Hungerthon Hustle at NYC’s Citi Field. Hosted by award-winning actor, producer, singer, and television personality Kalen Allen, co-chaired by WhyHunger Chair of the Board of Directors, Cindy Secunda and EY’s Alysia Steinmann McWilliams, and joined by special guests comedian and TIME100 Creator Taryn Delanie Smith, the benefit run/walk is 4.8K in solidarity with the 48 million Americans who struggled to get food on the table last year, with the goal of shrinking the number and distance each year. Register HERE by noon on November 6 for the NYC event or join virtually through fitness apps anywhere in the U.S. The 2026 Hungerthon Hustle is sponsored by the Secunda Family Foundation, SiriusXM Cares, EY, Citi, and venue sponsor Citi Field.
Amplified Concert: On December 1, WhyHunger will host its sold-out annual Amplified Hungerthon Concert, featuring headliner Lucy Dacus (“one of the best songwriters of her generation” - Rolling Stone), with support from Infinity Song and special guest, Emmy®-nominated and Peabody-winning writer, director and comedian Julio Torres at NYC’s Webster Hall. The concert, which is being held on Giving Tuesday, has 100% of proceeds directly supporting WhyHunger’s work to nourish communities and address the root causes of hunger in the U.S. Fans have a chance to request a song to influence Lucy’s set list with a donation to WhyHunger HERE. WhyHunger has partnered with iHeartMedia New York as the Premier Audio Partner for Amplified, using music to advance the food justice movement. The event is sponsored by the Secunda Family Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Radio and Ambassador Partnerships: Each year, Hungerthon’s longstanding radio partners SiriusXM and iHeartMedia New York, artist ambassadors including Bruce Springsteen and Yoko Ono Lennon, and supporters nationwide come together to amplify WhyHunger’s message and boost donations. Tune-in for radio broadcasts and Hungerthon interviews through December 10th.
Celebrity Online Auction: Supporters can bid on exclusive celebrity auction items and once-in-a-lifetime experiences through Charitybuzz starting Nov 10th. Sign up for updates at Charitybuzz.com/Hungerthon. Early items already up for auction include:
Gifts that Give Back: Donations via Hungerthon.org unlock special gift options for supporters, including Hungerthon 2026 Food Justice Champions Tee, Bruce Springsteen Long Walk Home Signature Tee, John Lennon Imagine There’s No Hunger Ringer Tee, Ultimate Hungerthon 2026 Bundle and more.
Imagine There’s No Hunger, Ultimate Hungerthon 2026, and Hungerthon Essentials bundles
“Now is the time for action. Food assistance is being stripped from millions, one in five U.S. adults relied on a food bank or pantry in the past year, and tens of millions of families are struggling to meet their basic needs. As hunger and economic hardship deepen, there has never been a more urgent time to join the movement to end hunger and systemic inequities at its root,” says WhyHunger’s Executive Director Jenique Jones. “Together, we can meet this moment and build a different future. Through Hungerthon, artists, radio partners, communities and supporters band together to raise their voices, invest in community-led solutions to hunger, and advance the human right to nutritious food for all.”
For more than four decades, WhyHunger’s Hungerthon has been an engine powering community solutions to hunger that work. In partnership with SiriusXM and iHeartRadio NY, last year’s Hungerthon campaign raised $1.4 million through celebrity involvement, auctions, events and merchandise. For more information and to support this year’s Hungerthon, visit Hungerthon.org and follow the conversation on social media using #Hungerthon.
In the face of growing food insecurity, WhyHunger raised over half a million dollars to fuel their work at the 2026 Chapin Gala, honoring GRAMMY® and Golden Globe Award-winning, Oscar-nominated singer/songwriter, activist, and acclaimed actress Andra Day and 4x Peabody Award winner, MacArthur Fellow, and founder of Radiolab Jad Abumrad. Previous recipients include Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Barbra Streisand, Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels and beyond.
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.
If you or someone you know needs assistance finding healthy meals, visit whyhunger.org/findfood, call the WhyHunger Hotline at 1(800) 5-HUNGRY, or text your zip code to 1-800-548-6479.
To learn more about WhyHunger and how you can support the movement to end hunger, visit whyhunger.org and follow on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, X and TikTok.
