Hurricane Doesn’t Dampen
Bread for the World’s
New York City Gala
The ninth annual Bread for the World New York City Dr. Rajiv Shah (right), administrator of the United States Agency for International
Gala and Reception took on special significance as guests Development, chats with Jim Lund (center), vice president for development and
gathered in mid-November. Two weeks earlier, Hurricane membership at Bread for the World, and Chang Park, Bread for the World board
Sandy had pounded the East Coast, flooding much of lower member, during the reception on Nov. 15. Bread for the World and the Alliance to
End Hunger celebrated its champions at the Union League Club in New York City.
Manhattan.
In his introductory remarks, John Driscoll, the event of Americans by documenting the lives of three struggling
advisory board co-chair, reminded attendees that tonight families. Bread for the World’s 2013 Offering of Letters, also
“we’re all New Yorkers.” He noted that the emergency food titled “A Place at the Table,” will coincide with the release
aid dispensed to families—many of whom lost everything to of the film.
the storm—was powerful evidence of Bread for the World’s
Dr. Shah offered the keynote address for the evening.
impact.
He congratulated Bread for the World for its commitment
Even with continuing power outages and other difficul- to advocacy, which he said has paid incredible dividends
ties, 150 people came to the Union League Club in Manhat- for vulnerable people across the United States and around
tan on Nov. 15 to hear from David Beckmann, president of the world—in spite of partisan battles and political distracBread for the World; Ambassador Tony Hall, executive direc- tions. Dr. Shah spoke about USAID’s new model of detor of the Alliance to End Hunger; and special guest Dr. Ra- velopment, referencing the global food security initiative,
jiv Shah, administrator of the U.S. Agency
Feed the Future, for which Bread for the
for International Development (USAID).
“In the past few years we’ve World has been a strong advocate. He
“Ending hunger is possible,” stated
remarked on its ambitious goals to end
seen the momentum build
Beckmann emphatically during his rehunger, eliminate extreme poverty, and
marks. Many guests later said that his and real results begin to
ensure that children and their mothers
declaration presented a reality that they emerge.”
have healthy and fulfilling lives.
— Dr. Rajiv Shah
had never imagined. Statistics show that
Dr. Shah reported that, “in the past few
worldwide hunger has been cut in half
years we’ve seen the momentum build and
since the 1990s, said Beckmann. These are promising num- real results begin to emerge—including 8.8 million children
bers, but work remains to be done.
reached through nutrition programs, and 1.8 million people
Advisory board co-chair Terence Meehan introduced a who adopted improved technologies or management practices.”
video message from actor Martin Sheen who encouraged
The event drew a strong turnout and raised over $800,000.
those in the room to engage in advocacy on behalf of hungry “I thought the event was wonderful,” said longtime Bread
people. Following Sheen’s words, film producer Lori Silver- supporter Adele Keogh.
bush joined Meehan on stage to introduce the trailer for A
In addition to the luminaries, other longtime Bread for
Place at the Table—a new documentary film project produced the World members gathered for the evening’s activities: stuby Participant Media, the team behind An Inconvenient Truth; dents from a local Sacred Heart high school and from CoFood, Inc.; and Lincoln. The new film—set to debut in theaters lumbia University and Fordham University as well as leadin March 2013—investigates hunger experienced by millions ers in finance, health care, academia, and the arts.
6 Bread | January-February 2013
Mark Abramson for Bread for the World
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