National Geographic, Feeding America and Chef Mario Batali Team Up to Share Stories of Hunger and Hope in Our Country

WASHINGTON (Nov. 19, 2014)-National Geographic and Feeding America today announced that acclaimed chef Mario Batali will serve as a guest editor for National Geographic's current Your Shot photo assignment, The Story of Hunger and Hope, to inspire people to care about the issue of hunger in America. Batali is a member of the Feeding America Entertainment Council and a longtime anti-hunger advocate.

Your Shot (natgeoyourshot.com) is National Geographic's online community of nearly 500,000 photographers where participants can share images, take part in assignments, lend their voices to compelling stories and connect with fellow photographers from around the globe. Anyone can join the Your Shot community and participate in The Story of Hunger and Hope assignment, in which National Geographic and Feeding America are partnering to tell true stories of the people who experience hunger and those who are working to solve the problem. National Geographic photographer Annie Griffiths is on assignment for Feeding America while also leading this Your Shot project. Feeding America is the nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization, providing food to more than 46 million Americans annually.

As a chef, the issue of hunger has always been near to my heart. To me, food is so much more than nourishment - it is love; it is hope for a happier life and a better future, said Batali. That's why I'm excited to help inspire people to try to solve hunger in the United States by joining Feeding America - an organization that distributes more than 3.3 billion meals to people in need each year - and National Geographic as a guest editor for the Your Shot assignment The Story of Hunger and Hope.

This year, National Geographic magazine has been publishing an eight-month series looking at the future of food and ways of feeding a world population projected to be 9 billion by 2050. Last month, the Society announced a multiyear commitment to exploring issues relating to food security and the creation of sustainable food systems. In tandem with this initiative, The Story of Hunger and Hope Your Shot project is designed to capture photographs of what hunger looks like in communities around the country and convey the hope that exists when people work together to solve the problem.

Throughout the assignment, which closes on Sunday, Nov. 30, Batali will help raise awareness by sharing his perspective on submitted photos. The top photographs will be announced and posted on natgeoyourshot.com on Monday, Dec. 8.

About National Geographic

With a mission to inspire, illuminate and teach, the National Geographic Society is one of the world's largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. The member-supported Society, which believes in the power of science, exploration and storytelling to change the world, reaches over 600 million people each month through its media platforms, products and events. National Geographic has funded more than 11,000 research, conservation and exploration projects, and its education programs promote geographic literacy. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com.

About Feeding America

Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger. Visit www.feedingamerica.org, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

LINK:	http://press.nationalgeographic.com/2014/11/19/feeding-america-mario-b...
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