Five-time Grammy Award winner, Christina Aguilera, was today named “Ambassador Against Hunger” for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) – an appointment she revealed during her appearance on “The Oprah Winfrey Show”.
“A child dies every 6 seconds of hunger which is a huge statistic for me,” Aguilera told Oprah Winfrey. “After having my own child I just had to be a part of it and do something about it and help change that situation.”
Aguilera, one of the most successful recording artists of the decade, has a track record of interest and commitment to hunger issues. Last year, she traveled to Guatemala to see WFP’s maternal/child health programs. She serves as the Spokesperson for World Hunger Relief, a global campaign created by Yum! Brands that generated awareness and nearly $60 million in funds over the past three years for WFP and other hunger relief agencies.
In January, she performed in MTV’s ‘Hope for Haiti’ telethon that raised more than $ 60 million for disaster relief in Haiti, including for WFP relief work. Later in May she plans to travel with WFP to Haiti to see first-hand how food assistance projects are helping to rebuild devastated communities.
Aguilera described her work with WFP as a life-changing experience and said she plans to go to Haiti soon: “I want to check on the situation there and help to deliver food. I want to visit orphanages and schools there and try to do my part in helping.”
“Christina Aguilera’s passion and dedication to hungry children runs deep, and it will make her a wonderful champion in the fight against hunger,” said Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of WFP, welcoming Aguilera to the WFP team.
Aguilera is asking her fans to join her in the fight against hunger, by going to www.wfp.org/christina or texting WFP to 90999 (US only) to make a $5 donation – enough to feed a child in school for an entire month.
