United Nations World Food Programme, TNT and Unilever Host Global Walk Against Child...

Fri May 30, 2008 10:00am EDT
 
[-] Text [+]
United Nations World Food Programme, TNT and Unilever Host Global Walk Against Child Hunger on Sunday, June 1st

   Walk in New York City to kick off from Irish Hunger Memorial in
Battery Park City at 10:00 a.m.
NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--
As high food prices plunge thousands of people further into
poverty, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), together with
its major corporate partners, TNT and Unilever, will host a global
walk against child hunger on Sunday, June 1, 2008, "End Hunger: Walk
the World."

   Thousands of people - many of whom can no longer afford the food
available in markets - will come together with celebrities, government
dignitaries, UN agencies, WFP corporate partners, and their employees,
friends and families to walk over a 24-hour period in each of the
planet's time zones to raise awareness and funds to feed children.

   The Walk in New York City will begin at 10:00 a.m. starting from
the Irish Hunger Memorial in Battery Park City at the corner of Vesey
St. and North End Ave. This walk is open to the general public. Nearly
450 walkers are expected to participate in the event.

   Families struggling with the price crunch are making tough
choices: cutting meals, eating less nutritious food or taking their
children out of school because they are no longer able to pay school
fees. WFP school meals provide a critical safety net to poor families
who desperately need help in this time of hardship.

   "End Hunger: Walk the World," a yearly event initiated by TNT in
2003, and joined by Unilever in 2007, will raise funds and public
awareness to feed 59 million children who attend school hungry. For as
little as 25 US cents WFP can give a cup of porridge, rice or beans to
a child in school - a small but highly effective investment in a
healthy and productive future.

   Note to Editors: Live satellite coverage via the APTN Global Video
Wire from specific walks (e.g. Indonesia, China, Swaziland, and
Guatemala) will be made available upon request. Trailer and photos can
be downloaded off of www.movingtheworld.org/walktheworld.

   WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency: this year, WFP
plans to feed more than 70 million people in around 80 countries.

   TNT is a global mail and express delivery company serving more
than 200 countries. Since 2002, TNT has been an active partner of WFP
and to date has invested over $50 million in the partnership.

   Unilever is one of the world's largest consumer products
companies. In January 2007, Unilever joined forces with WFP for a
three-year partnership to combat child hunger around the world.

   www.movingtheworld.org/walktheworld / www.wfp.org/walktheworld

TNT Express
Isabelle Weisman, 718-472-7717
isabelle.weisman@tnt.com
or
Unilever
Anita Larsen, 201-894-7760
anita.larsen@unilever.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008

 

Editor's Choice

A selection of our best photos from the past 24 hours.  Slideshow 

Most Popular on Reuters

  • Articles
  • Video
Join the Reuters Consumer Insight Panel and help us get to know you better

Join the Reuters Consumer Insight Panel and help us get to know you better