Yum! Brands announced today the launch of World Hunger Relief featuring global spokesperson and new World Food Programme (WFP) Ambassador Aganst Hunger, Christina Aguilera. According to the United Nations, there are approximately 1 billion people around the world who are hungry today.

World Hunger Relief is the world’s largest private sector hunger relief effort, spanning 110 countries, 37,000 KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Long John Silver’s and A&W All-American Food restaurants and more than 1 million employees and franchise associates. The campaign raises awareness, volunteerism and funds for WFP and other hunger relief agencies.

Aguilera raises awareness of the hunger issue by appearing in new World Hunger Relief restaurant posters, including a never-seen-before photo of her in Haiti, with the quote, “Together, we have the power to save lives and go from hunger to hope”. Aguilera also appears in a global PSA where the multi-Grammy Award winning pop superstar sings Beautiful to raise money for hunger relief as well as online efforts, including the campaign’s website, FromHungertoHope.com.

Aguilera was appointed “Ambassador Against Hunger” for WFP this year and traveled with the organization to Haiti where she toured the quake-stricken country with WFP aid workers and spent time with mothers and children after the January earthquake. She visited schools and helped serve meals to children receiving food through WFP school meal programs.

Aguilera’s participation in Yum! Brands’ World Hunger Relief effort last year helped raise a record-breaking $22.5 million for WFP and other hunger relief agencies, helping to provide 90 million meals to hungry people in remote corners of the world.

There are approximately 1 billion hungry people around the world today. Hunger and malnutrition are the number one risk to health worldwide – greater than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined. Among the key causes of hunger are natural disasters, conflict, poverty, poor agricultural infrastructure and over-exploitation of the environment. Recently, financial and economic crises have pushed more people into hunger.

“With about 1 billion people going hungry around the world today, this critical issue must be addressed,” said David Novak, Chairman and CEO, Yum! Brands, Inc. “As the world’s largest restaurant company, we believe it is our responsibility to do everything we can to find a meaningful solution such as building awareness, inspiring volunteerism and raising money,” said Novak.

Yum! plans to generate the equivalent of nearly $50 million in awareness of the hunger issue through a PSA, advertising, public relations, web-based communications and in-restaurant posters. The Company’s employees and franchisees will be volunteering their time around the globe at hunger relief agencies, food banks, soup kitchens and launching fundraisers.

In the past three years, World Hunger Relief has raised nearly $60 million for WFP and other hunger relief organizations and is helping to provide approximately 250 million meals, saving the lives of millions of people in remote corners of the world. More than 1 million of the Company’s employees, franchisees and their families have volunteered more than 15 million hours to aid hunger relief efforts in communities worldwide. Earlier this year, WFP named Yum! Brands Private Sector Partner of the Year for the Company’s global effort.

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