Oscar Winner Jeff Bridges to Address National Press Club on Childhood Hunger

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Aug 13, 2010, 09:16 ET

Bridges Tackles New Role as Spokesperson for Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry Campaign™

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Academy Award winning actor Jeff Bridges, recipient of the 2010 Best Actor Oscar for his performance in the film Crazy Heart, will address the National Press Club November 10, in Washington, D.C. Announced today as the National Spokesperson for Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry Campaign™, Bridges will discuss a new effort to end childhood hunger in America by 2015. Nearly 17 million children in America – almost 1 in 4 –struggle with hunger, according to a 2009 U.S. Agriculture Department report.

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"Millions of our kids can't learn in school because they are hungry," Bridges says on his official website. "Public charities, food banks, and church pantries are doing more than ever before, but they can't keep up with the need. We can never end hunger through the wonderful work of local charities. Like other western democracies, we must end hunger through governmental leadership."

Mr. Bridges, 60, is a long-time, leading advocate for global hunger issues. In 1983 the actor and musician founded the non-profit End Hunger Network to concentrate on fighting world hunger. The charity now focuses its efforts on raising awareness through the media and generating public action to end U.S. child hunger.

As the new national spokesperson for Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry Campaign™, Bridges will be working with the non-profit organization to end childhood hunger in America by 2015. Over the last 25 years, Share Our Strength has raised more than $280 million and provided funding to more than 1,000 community organizations working to end childhood hunger. For details, go to www.strength.org.

Mr. Bridges will star in the upcoming 2011 film releases of True Grit and Tron Legacy. He recently appeared in The Men Who Stare at Goats and Iron Man. Mr. Bridges earned Academy Award nominations for his roles in the The Last Picture Show, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, Starman, and The Contender. He also starred in the films as Against All Odds, Jagged Edge, Fearless, The Big Lebowski, Tron, The Fabulous Baker Boys, The Fisher King, Arlington Road, The Mirror Has Two Faces, The Vanishing, Tucker, and King Kong.

The November 10 Press Club luncheon will begin promptly at 12:30 p.m. Mr. Bridge's remarks will begin just after 1:00 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session. Tickets are open the NPC members and their guests only. Advance reservations should be made by calling (202) 662-7501 or by emailing [email protected]. Cost of luncheon admission is $17 for National Press Club members, $28 for their guests. Credentialed press may cover this event.

To submit a question in advance, type BRIDGES in the subject line, and email it to [email protected] before 10 a.m. on November 10. For media inquiries, contact Melissa Charbonneau at [email protected].

Event: Jeff Bridges National Press Club Address on Childhood Hunger in America

When: 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 10

Where: National Press Club , 13th floor Ballroom, 529 14th Street, NW, Washington, D.C.

About the National Press Club

Known as "The Place Where News Happens," the National Press Club has more than 3,500 members, including journalists from every major news organization. Each year the Press Club hosts more than 250,000 visitors at more than 2,000 events beamed to global audiences on air, in print, and online. The Club provides a global forum for the most prominent figures in government, politics, industry, sports, entertainment, and the arts. For more information about the Club and its programs, go to www.press.org.

SOURCE National Press Club