On June 3rd, WhyHunger celebrated its 38th annual awards dinner at the Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers in Manhattan. ascap President Paul Williams presented legendary artist Yoko Ono Lennon with the ascap Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award for her efforts to raise money for the world’s poor. Yoko Ono Lennon’s “Imagine There’s No Hunger” campaign, in partnership with the Hard Rock Café International, has raised more than $1 million for WhyHunger’s projects, which has helped provide over 6.8 million nutritious meals and agricultural training to children in 19 countries around the world. Co-founded by the late singer-songwriter and ascap member Harry Chapin (“Cat’s in the Cradle,” “Taxi,” “W*O*L*D” and “Songman”) and current Executive Director Bill Ayres in 1975, WhyHunger aims to help create self-reliance, economic justice and equal access to nutritious and affordable food. ascap is a founding sponsor of WhyHunger’s Artists Against Hunger and Poverty campaign.
Past recipients of the ascap Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award have included Ruben Blades, Ashford & Simpson, Wyclef Jean, Jackson Browne, Elvis Costello, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Michael McDonald, Emmylou Harris, Judy Collins, Harry Belafonte, Barbra Streisand, Peter, Paul & Mary and Kenny Rogers.