Freedom from Hunger Launches Month-long Celebration of Improving the Lives of Women & Children

Online, September 28, 2010 (Newswire.com) - Davis, California -- Freedom from Hunger Day takes place this year following the United Nations Summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), which concluded last week in New York City with the adoption of a global action plan to achieve eight anti-poverty goals by their 2015 target date and with the announcement of new commitments to women's and children's health and other initiatives against poverty, hunger and disease. The first of these eight goals is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.

Freedom from Hunger's mission coincides with several of the MDGs, including sustainably improving family food security. Founded in 1946, Freedom from Hunger has more than six decades of experience working to overcome world hunger and for over 20 years has been a global leader in microfinance and education innovations for long-term, sustainable, self-help solutions to end chronic hunger.

Jane Pauley, noted television personality and long-time supporter and co-Chair of Freedom from Hunger's Ambassadors Council, and her husband Garry Trudeau, creator of the Doonesbury comic strip, recently saw firsthand how one of Freedom from Hunger's programs is helping women become self-sufficient and stay healthy. While in Bolivia with Freedom from Hunger, Jane observed, "What makes the program here unique is education. Freedom from Hunger has always made the link between giving people financial opportunities to better their lives, and education, which is so important."

Freedom from Hunger Day on September 28 launches a month-long campaign this year to celebrate women's stories of hope, health and success from around the world. Established in 2006, Freedom from Hunger Day was declared an official day of awareness by the State of California, commemorating those who work tirelessly to end hunger and to promote empowerment of women.

In honor of Freedom from Hunger Day, Jane and Garry will match every donation dollar for dollar if at least $25,000 in total donations is received between September 28 and October 28. Each gift is doubled to equip impoverished women with sustainable, self-help solutions that assist them to break their families free from chronic hunger.

You can make a significant personal difference by participating in the Freedom from Hunger Day matching-gift challenge, while also contributing toward the achievement of the MDGs. Even if you can't make a gift today, there are plenty of ways to help spread the word about Freedom from Hunger Day and this noteworthy celebration of women. Please watch Jane Pauley's video, discussing her commitment to Freedom from Hunger at http://www.freedomfromhunger.org/bytes/video/video.php?videoname=pauley and visit www.freedomfromhunger.org for more information about how to take action.