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ACTION AGAINST HUNGER 2016 GALA HONORS
WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL
WITH ACCEPTANCE BY OPRAH WINFREY AND
ERTHARIN COUSIN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME
RAISING OVER $ 1.3 MILLION
On October 24, 2016, Action Against Hunger hosted its 17th Annual
Gala Against Hunger at 583 Park Avenue in New York City
honoring Weight
Watchers International, with an acceptance by Oprah
Winfrey, and Ertharin
Cousin, Executive Director, the World
Food Programme.
The event benefitted Action Against Hunger’s lifesaving,
international hunger relief programs. Leading event sponsors
included luxury jeweler Chopard and Bavarian bath, body and
skincare brand Kneipp. The
2016 Gala Co-Chairs were Carmen
Debbane and Sandra
Tamer. Presenters included Action Against Hunger’s
Chairman of the Board Raymond
Debbane and
CEO Andrea
Tamburini, along with special performances
by the National Dance Institute.
The evening’s Corporate Honoree was Weight Watchers
International, the world’s leading commercial provider of
weight management services. Weight Watchers shares Action
Against Hunger’s commitment to good nutrition, health and
well-being. In 2008, Weight Watchers partnered with Action
Against Hunger to launch the Lose
for Good campaign
to fight global hunger and chronic malnutrition, inviting
members to lose weight to benefit Action Against Hunger’s
mission. Over the last eight years, Weight Watchers has
generated over $1.9 million in life saving funds for Action
Against Hunger. A steadfast partner in the fight against
deadly hunger, Weight Watchers continues to explore unique
opportunities to have an even greater impact on global
nutrition and healthy living.
Oprah Winfrey accepted
the Action Against Hunger Corporate Honoree Award on behalf
of Weight
Watchers International, where she sits on the company’s
Board of Directors. As a global
media leader, philanthropist, producer and actress, Oprah
has created an unparalleled connection with people around
the world. Her accomplishments have established her as one
of the most respected and admired figures today.
“Everyone just wants the chance to live good and decent
lives. Everyone wants to be seen and heard. You cannot be
seen and heard until you are first fed -- physical feeding
first, then spiritual and emotional feeding. I believe your
legacy is every life you have touched. Thank you, Action
Against Hunger, for showing the power of legacy for all of
us. There is a way in our lifetime to end hunger -- that is
what matters.”
--Oprah Winfrey
Action Against Hunger presented its Humanitarian Award to Ertharin
Cousin, Executive Director of the World
Food Programme, the world’s largest humanitarian
organization with approximately 14,000 staff serving over 80
million people in 80 countries across the world. As the
leader of the World Food Programme, Ms. Cousin guides the
organization in meeting urgent food needs while championing
longer-term solutions to food insecurity and hunger. She is
a leading advocate for improving the lives of hungry people
worldwide, and travels extensively to elevate solutions for
food insecurity and chronic malnutrition. Ms. Cousin brings
more than 25 years of national and international non-profit,
government, and corporate leadership experience focusing on
hunger, food, and resilience strategies.
“WFP has 200 partners around the world. One of the best of
those partners is Action Against Hunger. In the deep field,
you're right there with us, working together. Working to
make sure people in need are not going to bed hungry. Yes,
we can achieve zero hunger. But we need to step it up. It is
simply about us getting together and getting it done. As
Nelson Mandela said, 'It always seems impossible until it is
done.'"
--Ertharin Cousin
Action Against Hunger is
a global humanitarian organization that takes decisive
action against the causes and effects of hunger. We save the
lives of malnourished children. We ensure families can
access clean water, food, training, and healthcare. We
enable entire families to be free from hunger. In
2015, our programs reached 14.9 million people in 47
countries. For more information about the 2016 Gala Against
Hunger and Action Against Hunger, please visit www.actionagainsthunger.org.
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