LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Yum! Brands (NYSE: YUM) announced today the launch of its annual World Hunger Relief effort featuring multi-Grammy Award winner and international superstar Christina Aguilera in a new public service announcement (PSA).
According to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), there are 795 million people around the world who suffer from chronic hunger. Yum! Brands’ World Hunger Relief effort is the world’s largest private sector hunger relief initiative spanning more than 125 countries, over 41,000 KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell restaurants and 1.5 million associates. The initiative began in 2007 in an effort to raise awareness, volunteerism and funds for the WFP and other hunger relief agencies.
The new PSA includes footage from Aguilera’s recent WFP humanitarian trip to Ecuador where she witnessed the effects of hunger first hand and helped beneficiaries of WFP’s nutrition programs. Aguilera met with local refugee families and served food to hungry children who often times receive just one meal a day through WFP’s school feeding program. The PSA will air online later this fall.
In addition to the new PSA, Aguilera raises awareness for the global hunger issue through World Hunger Relief posters at KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell restaurants, plus online efforts including the campaign’s website, HungertoHope.com. She has served as a volunteer spokesperson for World Hunger Relief since 2009 where her participation has helped raise millions for WFP and other hunger relief agencies. She also serves as an “Ambassador Against Hunger” for WFP where she has traveled on several relief trips with them.
“I’ve visited WFP relief sites in Ecuador, Rwanda, Haiti, and Guatemala and they are life changing experiences,” said Aguilera. “While I’ve witnessed tremendous need, I’ve also seen the joy from mothers and their children as they’re served a meal through WFP. My goal with Yum! Brands World Hunger Relief is to inspire as many people as possible to donate to the cause and become part of the solution. Just $1 will provide a school meal for four children in developing countries.”
“We’re on a mission to Feed the World by making a difference in global hunger,” said Greg Creed, Chief Executive Officer, Yum! Brands. “We’re thankful to WFP for their life-saving efforts in developing countries and to Christina Aguilera for using her voice to raise awareness about this critical issue. I’m also proud of the hard work and passion of our associates and franchisees around the globe who raise funds, food donations and volunteer in their local communities for hunger relief.”
“We are grateful for Yum! Brands’ partnership and the enthusiasm they share with millions of their customers who join our movement every year to end global hunger,” said Ertharin Cousin, Executive Director of WFP. “With their support, WFP is able to continue providing life-changing food assistance to those in need and make progress toward the global goal of zero hunger by 2030.”
Since 2007, Yum! Brands’ World Hunger Relief effort has raised more than $600 million for WFP and other hunger relief organizations and provided 2.4 billion nutritious meals for those in need. Every U.S. dollar raised goes directly toward WFP’s operations to fight hunger worldwide, mostly to disaster relief and school meals programs. Just one U.S. dollar provides meals to four hungry children at school. Consumers can visit HungertoHope.com, donate in KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell restaurants worldwide or text “WHR” to 90999 in the U.S. to make a donation.
Yum! also addresses hunger in the U.S. through its Harvest program. Since 1992, the Company’s brands have contributed more than 176 million pounds of food to over 3,000 nonprofit organizations for those at risk of hunger in the U.S. Since its launch over two decades ago, Yum! Harvest has become the largest prepared-food donation program in the world. The Company continues to expand the program globally.
Join the movement at #FeedtheWorld @yumbrands.
Yum! Brands, Inc., based in Louisville, Kentucky, has over 41,000 restaurants in more than 125 countries and territories. Yum! is ranked #228 on the Fortune 500 List with revenues of over $13 billion in 2014 and is one of the Aon Hewitt Top Companies for Leaders in North America. The Company's restaurant brands - KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell - are the global leaders of the chicken, pizza and Mexican-style food categories. Outside the United States, the Yum! Brands system opens over five new restaurants per day on average, making it a leader in international retail development.
The World Food Programme is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 80 countries.
