Mario Batali, Carla Hall And Daphne Oz of ABC's "The Chew" to Emcee Food Bank for New York City's Star-Studded Can Do Awards Gala, April 21

Mario Batali Launches Social Media Campaign and Challenges Friends Jimmy Fallon, Gwyneth Paltrow & Sting to Take The #FoodBankNYCChallenge

News provided by

Food Bank For New York City

Apr 01, 2015, 02:30 ET

NEW YORK, April 1, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Food Bank For New York City today announced that ABC's "The Chew" co-hosts, Mario Batali, Carla Hall, and Daphne Oz, will emcee the organization's star-studded 13^th Annual Can Do Awards Dinner on April 21^st at Cipriani Wall Street. Because every New Yorker CAN DO something to end hunger, Can Do Honorary Chair and Food Bank Board member, Mario Batali, is inviting his friends – Jimmy Fallon, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Sting – to join him by taking the #FoodBankNYCChallenge or by making a donation to #CanDoNYC . Every dollar donated to Food Bank For New York City helps provide five meals.

The #FoodBankNYCChallenge encourages all New Yorkers to walk in the shoes of the 1.7 million New Yorkers who rely on SNAP (formerly known as Food Stamps) to eat, and hopes to raise awareness and foster a greater understanding of the struggle to afford food on a food stamp budget of $29 per person, per week. Visit http://www.foodbanknyc.org/ to join Mario #FoodBankNYCChallenge because you too Can Do something to make a difference in the lives of New Yorkers in need.

On April 21^st, Food Bank For New York City —the city's major hunger-relief organization working to end food poverty throughout the five boroughs — will honor its partners in the fight against hunger — Tom Colicchio and Lori Silverbush, Stavros Niarchos Foundation and Sandra Lee-Simply Living Publishing — at their Annual Can Do Awards Dinner, presented by Bank of America. Mario Batali and Susan Cahn, long-time Food Bank supporters and the 2013 Can Do Award honorees, serve as this year's Honorary Chairs. Nashville's Grammy Award-winning and CMA Vocal Group of the Year Little Big Town will be the special musical guest, bringing some of their biggest hits to the Can Do Awards. More than 600 attendees are expected to fill the room in support of Food Bank's fight against hunger.

The Can Do Awards Dinner is instrumental in helping provide support for the 1.5 million New Yorkers who rely on Food Bank programs and services, including one in five children. New York's most vulnerable families have lost more than 56 million meals as a result of the November 2013 cuts to SNAP (formerly known as food stamps). Food pantries and soup kitchens have confronted additional need without an adequate supply of food. Can Do celebrates what each of us CAN DO to help fight hunger in New York City. Since its inception, the Can Do Awards have raised more than 12 million dollars, helping to provide 60 million meals for New Yorkers in need.

Tables/Tickets can be purchased by calling the Can Do Awards Benefit Office at 212-867-1777, by emailing [email protected]/ or go to: http://www.foodbanknyc.org/cando

About Food Bank For New York City
Food Bank For New York City has been the city's major hunger-relief organization working to end hunger throughout the five boroughs for more than 30 years. Nearly one in five New Yorkers relies on Food Bank for food and other resources. Food Bank takes a strategic, multifaceted approach that provides meals and builds capacity in the neediest communities, while raising awareness and engagement among all New Yorkers. Through its network of more than 1,000 charities and schools citywide, Food Bank provides food for more than 63 million free meals for New Yorkers in need. Food Bank For New York City's income support services, including food stamps (also known as SNAP) and free tax assistance for the working poor, put more than $100 million each year into the pockets of New Yorkers, helping them to afford food and achieve greater dignity and independence. In addition, Food Bank's nutrition education programs and services empower more than 275,000 children, teens and adults to sustain a healthy diet on a low budget.

To learn more about how you can help, please visit foodbanknyc.org. Follow us on Facebook (FoodBank4NYC), Twitter (@FoodBank4NYC) and Instagram (FoodBank4NYC).

Media Contacts:
Press Here Tel: 212-246-2640
Linda Carbone/ [email protected]
Carleen Donovan/ [email protected]
Jaclyn Ulman/ [email protected]
Carol Schneider/212-566-7855, ext. 2231/ [email protected]