WhyHunger is an organization that seeks to address the root causes of hunger and poverty. WhyHunger was founded in 1975 by folk singer Harry Chapin

Harry Chapin

Harry Forster Chapin was an American singer-songwriter best known in particular for his folk rock songs including "Taxi", "W*O*L*D", and the number-one hit "Cat's in the Cradle". Chapin was also a dedicated humanitarian who fought to end world hunger; he was a key player in the creation of the...

, a social activist who was as well known for his humanitarian efforts as for his guitar ballads, and 95.5 WPLJ New York, legendary radio D.J. Bill Ayres

Bill Ayres

Bill Ayres is a talk radio host and Executive Director and co-founder of World Hunger Year.Ayres became a Catholic priest for the Archdiocese in New York in 1966, but always had a fondness for radio broadcasting, starting as WGSM on Long Island. He began hosting and producing a weekly radio talk...

. Its Board of Directors is currently chaired by Jen Chapin

Jen Chapin

Jen Chapin is an American vocalist. She is the daughter of singer-songwriter Harry Chapin and his wife, Sandra Chapin. She also chairs the Board of Directors of World Hunger Year, a charity organization founded by Harry Chapin. She has been compared at times with Laura Nyro, Tori Amos, and Alanis...

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WhyHunger is convinced that solutions to hunger and poverty can be found at the grassroots level. WhyHunger advances long-term solutions to hunger and poverty by supporting community-based organizations that empower individuals and build self-reliance, i.e., offering job training, education and after school programs; increasing access to housing and healthcare; providing microcredit and entrepreneurial opportunities; teaching people to grow their own food; and assisting small farmers. WhyHunger connects these organizations to funders, media and legislators.