This past April, WhyHunger’s Hungerthon family lost one of its most vital architects, Pete Fornatale. Pete was an award-winning disk jockey, rock historian, author, WhyHunger Board member, Hungerthon founder & beloved friend.
In 1975, Pete, a DJ on WNEW-FM, and Mel Karmazin, then WNEW-FM’s General Manager, joined forces with WhyHunger co-founders Bill Ayres and Harry Chapin to create a New York City Thanksgiving-time radio fundraising tradition – Hungerthon. Pete passionately advocated for WhyHunger and received the 2001 WhyHunger Chapin Award for his steadfast commitment to the work of fighting hunger and poverty.
This year as we begin another Hungerthon, we feel a huge loss. But moreover, we lovingly celebrate our friend and fearless champion Pete Fornatale, and dedicate Hungerthon 2012 to his memory.