Toni Collette Helps Fight Hunger

Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actress, Toni Collette, and the international humanitarian organization, Concern Worldwide, are launching a campaign this fall to help make hunger history.

“Food is such a basic, primal need,” said Ms. Collette. “I can’t believe that people die from not eating. It seems absurd that in this day and age, hunger should be an issue anywhere given we are able to help those who can’t feed themselves.”

The campaign — Concern for Hunger — launched yesterday and supports Concern’s programs that treat and prevent malnutrition in 25 of the world’s poorest countries. People are invited to create their individual or team fundraising pages where they can ask their friends and family to sponsor them for skipping meals or to join them for a dinner party that raises funds to fight hunger. The fundraiser who raises the largest amount over $10,000 will have the opportunity to visit a Concern program overseas with a friend.

“So often hunger feels like a problem that is so far away and you can’t have an effect, but you can,” said Ms. Collette. “If you’re able to donate even a little that eventually culminates in a lot and has a great effect on someone’s life and even in fact may save a life.”

The world produces enough food to feed everyone, yet a child is lost every six seconds because of causes relating to malnutrition. Concern works on the front-lines of hunger in the world’s poorest countries through programs that not only provide comprehensive treatment for malnutrition, but also eliminate the root causes of hunger through investments in agriculture and food production.

“Concern for Hunger is more than a campaign—it’s a movement,” said Siobhan Walsh, Executive Director for Concern Worldwide US. “By joining us, you are making a statement that you will not sit back and let malnutrition continue to needlessly claim and destroy lives. Together, we can reach those who do not have enough to eat—and get closer to making extreme hunger history.”

You can hear more from Toni Collette on why she chose to join Concern in the fight against hunger in her PSA.