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Rick: Will there be a memorial event in DC for Senator McGovern? Should we contemplate one? Sandy

From: Rick Leach [mailto:RLeach@wfpusa.org]
Sent: Monday, November 26, 2012 10:51 AM
To: Abbey Trebilcock; Barbara Belmont; Bonnie Raquet; Carl Stern ; Dan Glickman; David Novak; Donna Hughes; Dr. Marsha Dubrow; Hunter Biden; Jonathan Blum; Katie Dodge; Khaliah Ali; Kimberly Schmid; Laura Huber; Marshall Matz; Matthew J. Harrington; Pat Walton Butcher (pat.walton@aspeninstitute.org); Rachel Reeve; Randy Russell; Rick Leach; Samuel Berger; Shannon Hiskey; Tripp Brown; Victor Latino
Subject: Update


Dear Members of the Board,

Following is a brief update and thoughts that I wanted to share with you.


George McGovern

On October 21st, our beloved George McGovern passed away at the age of 90. During his life, he served as the first Director of the Food for Peace program, a US Senator, Ambassador, presidential candidate, WW II bomber pilot and member of the WFP USA Board. His life of service impacted millions of people throughout the world.


George McGovern has had more of an impact in alleviating hunger in the U.S. and around the world than anyone ever. He solidified the US commitment to addressing global hunger in establishing the Food for Peace program under President Kennedy. He successfully urged President Clinton to launch a global school feeding initiative and then worked with Members of Congress to transform the initiative into the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education Program that provides meals to millions of children annually. As a Senator, he led the effort to establish or strengthen every domestic hunger program - from the food stamp and school lunch programs to WIC and the dietary guidelines. He built the strong bipartisan base of support in Congress that has maintained the US commitment to addressing hunger. At his 90th birthday party, he said he wanted to live to 100 because there were still children who were hungry. He never stopped fighting to end hunger.


I had the opportunity to sit with him at the hospice in Sioux Falls a few days before he died. I congratulated him for achieving a goal that we all set for ourselves - to live a life that has meaning, to have a positive impact on the world. George McGovern is a true American hero whose life and accomplishments represent the best of our nation. His legacy will live on in the leaders he inspired, in the programs he established and through the millions of children throughout the world that had a meal today because of him. The world is a better place because of George McGovern and we will miss him.


Thank You Novak family and YUM! Brands

David Novak's annual dinner held last month in Louisville raised $1 million dollars for the fight against global hunger. I had the honor of introducing David and noted that YUM! Brands global World Hunger Relief campaign has raised more than $115 million dollars - providing 460 million meals to those suffering from hunger. In addition to the dinner, David donated the royalties from his recent book to WFP USA. The YUM! Brands World Hunger Relief Campaign is projected to generate over $10 million in the U.S. this year (in addition to funds raised through their franchises throughout the world). Later this week, I am participating in an event in Dallas with a Pizza Hut franchise owner who raised $1 million for the campaign (double the amount he generated last year). In addition, the Novak Foundation - which is run by David's daughter Ashley, has committed $1 million to support the project in Ecuador. The commitment of the Novak family to alleviating hunger is truly inspiring.


Derek Yach Joins Discovery Health

Derek Yach has left PepsiCo to work on innovative health promotion strategies at Discovery Health. Derek played a lead role in PepsiCo's efforts to address global hunger including their partnership in Ethiopia focused on increasing the productivity of poor chick pea farmers. The chick peas are used to produce high nutrition packets distributed by WFP and for PepsiCo to produce hummus which they export to Europe (thereby creating economic opportunity to help lift these farmers out of hunger and poverty). Most of Derek's career was spent at the World Health Organization where he worked on disease prevention programs (including leading a global tobacco control initiative). Derek has resigned his position on the WFP USA board and has recommended a potential replacement from within PepsiCo for consideration by the board. A message from Derek and an article about his new undertaking is attached.


Christina Aguilera and Global Hunger

During an interview last week on Dateline on NBC, Christian Aguilera spoke about her work to address global hunger and mentioned our award ceremony at the State Department. They broadcast footage from the ceremony during the interview. She told Jonathan Blum that the afternoon at the State Department with Secretary Clinton and David Novak was the "most incredible day of her life". We hope to expand her involvement with WFP USA in the year ahead. Attached is an overview of the media coverage garnered via the ceremony.


Thank you very much for your continued dedication to the mission of WFP and WFP USA. Because of your efforts, many around the world have hope and opportunity instead of facing hunger and dispair. On behalf of those millions of people, thank you very much.


All the Best,

Rick


Richard Leach
President & CEO

World Food Program USA
1725 Eye Street NW, Suite 510
Washington, DC 20006
T 202.530.1694
F 202.530.1698
rleach@wfpusa.org<mailto:jcorum@wfpusa.org>