NEW YORK, Dec. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — WhyHunger’s annual Hungerthon campaign raised a record $825,000 for the fight against hunger and poverty through their radiothon and online auction with partners SiriusXM and CBS Radio Group.

“It’s been a tough year, our economy is still struggling and many of our neighbors and community-based partners were hit hard by Hurricane Sandy,” said
WhyHunger Co-Founder and Executive Director Bill Ayres . “But we never underestimate the power of our supporters, partners and the radio community to defend the rights of all people to have access to good food – both in times of crisis and 365 days a year.”

Funds raised by this year’s Hungerthon support WhyHunger’s work with grassroots organizations across the country, including many of their long time partners in the Tri-State area that have been on the front lines, providing food, water and critical services to their neighbors in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and working on long-term recovery.

With over 150 auctions on charitybuzz.com, this year’s top earners included:

One Direction meet and greet

Bruce Springsteen -autographed guitar

Kenny Chesney meet and greet

A road trip and game with the New York Giants

Items still available for bidding on charitybuzz.com/hungerthon, include a singed guitar from Billy Joel and tickets to the 47th Annual CMA Awards in Nashville, TN. Donations will continue to be accepted at Hungerthon.org for the rest of the year, where donors can receive signature Hard Rock John Lennon “Imagine There’s No Hunger” holiday gifts or a limited edition Bruce Springsteen “Born To Run” t-shirt featuring a never before released Eric Meola photo from the Born to Run photo sessions. Donations are also being accepted by texting IMAGINE to 50555 to make a $10 donation.

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.

Special thanks to Hungerthon 2012 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; WFUV, 95.5 WPLJ and our sponsors at Hard Rock International, Boar’s Head Provisions Co., Inc and Clif Bar Family Foundation.

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Join us on Sirius XM Satellite Radio, WCBS Newsradio 880, 101.1 WCBS-FM, Sports Radio 66 WFAN, 1010 WINS, 92.3 FM Now & Fresh 102.7.

Call in to donate and receive special gifts at 1-800-5HUNGRY. That’s 1-800-548-6479.

Visit Hungerthon.org to donate now and receive signature John Lennon Imagine There’s No Hunger and Bruce Springsteen gifts or bid on over 130 unique auction items and experiences from your favorite musicians, athletes and personalities.

WhyHunger offers special thanks to the radio industry for its vital role in Hungerthon’s success.

Read previous “What’s New” articles about our amazing auction items and post-Hurricane Sandy stories from the National Hunger Hotline.

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Bid for items like a Baby Taylor acoustic guitar autographed by Taylor Swift, a Fender Squier Electric Guitar signed by P!nk and a Fender Stratocaster guitar autographed especially for Hungerthon 2012 by two time Grammy Awards nominee, Mumford & Sons.

Win great sports packages from legends like Tony Hawk and teams like the Knicks, Yankees, Mets, Giants, Jets and more, plus tons of items from your favorite country stars, like Kenny Chesney, Luke Bryan and Carrie Underwood.

You can also visit Hungerthon.org to donate now and receive signature John Lennon Imagine There’s No Hunger and Bruce Springsteen gifts.

Read previous “What’s New” articles about our Imagine There’s No Hunger launch event and post-Hurricane Sandy stories from the National Hunger Hotline.

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Tune in! Saturday December 8 Hungerthon will be on WFAN660 AM – 101.9 FM from 6 AM to 10 AM. Call in to donate and receive special gifts or bid on an exclusive auction item only offered on our phone lines, a Meat Loaf Platinum Plaque for “Bat Out of Hell,” donated by Richard Neer. To bid or donate call 1-800-5HUNGRY between 6 AM and 10 AM on Saturday Dec. 8. That’s 1-800-548-6479.

WhyHunger offers special thanks to the radio industry for its vital role in Hungerthon’s success.

Visit Hungerthon.org to donate now and receive signature John Lennon Imagine There’s No Hunger and Bruce Springsteen gifts or bid on over 100 unique auction items and experiences from your favorite musicians, athletes and personalities.

Read previous “What’s New” articles about our Imagine There’s No Hunger launch event and post-Hurricane Sandy stories from the National Hunger Hotline.

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In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, WhyHunger’s National Hunger Hotline (1-866-3-HUNGRY) is fielding calls from hundreds of families affected by the storm, connecting them with emergency food assistance, government programs, and support in their communities to ensure they get the resources they need for today and the support to get back on their feet for tomorrow.

Cheryl, from Brooklyn, NY, called after receiving the number for the National Hunger Hotline from FEMA. Because her neighborhood still had heat, water and electricity, Cheryl was providing shelter for seven other family members and friends, including her 90-year-old grandfather, who lost his home in the storm. She told the Hotline advocate that she was running short on food for everyone. Cheryl was particularly worried about her disabled grandfather because she had to go to work and was unable to prepare meals for him during the day. The Hotline advocate provided Cheryl with contact information for local food pantries and Meals on Wheels for her grandfather. The advocate also informed Cheryl that her family may be eligible for D-SNAP (disaster food stamps) and told her more about the application process.

Nancy called the National Hunger Hotline from Union County, New Jersey, an area hard-hit by Hurricane Sandy. Her home had been without heat and electricity for eight days. “I’ve been driving two hours away for food and water, and I can’t keep doing it because there’s no gas left,” she told the Hotline advocate. Nancy did not know where she could go for relief, so the Hotline advocate provided her with phone numbers for the Red Cross and her local food bank, which were distributing emergency food, and information on how to apply for the Disaster-SNAP program.

Read previous “What’s New” articles about WhyHunger’s role in Sandy relief efforts and our Imagine There’s No Hunger launch event in Times Square.

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Read about our 11.19 Times Square launch event in The New York Times and Rolling Stone and watch a CNBC Squawk Box interview with Hard Rock International President and CEO Hamish Dodds and a Fuse TV interview with Yoko Ono Lennon and Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels.

Read the full press release here and join the conversation online at #ImagineNoHunger.

Imagine There’s No Hunger kicks off in Times Square on Nov. 19 with WhyHunger Executive Director Bill Ayres, Yoko Ono Lennon, Darryl “D.M.C.” McDaniels and Hard Rock International President and CEO Hamish Dodds. Photo by Diane Bondareff.

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