Michael Kors recently announced that Academy Award-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o has joined Watch Hunger Stop, the brand’s global philanthropic campaign against hunger. Now entering its seventh year, Watch Hunger Stop supports the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and its school meals program.
“I am proud to support Watch Hunger Stop because it focuses attention on solutions to the problem of hunger and encourages people to take action on an individual basis,” said Nyong’o, explaining her decision to join forces with Michael Kors.
The company reported that the Watch Hunger Stop campaign has helped WFP deliver more than 18 million meals to children since its inception.
“Watch Hunger Stop helps to fund meals for schools, which has a direct impact on leveling the performance playing field for underprivileged students,” Nyong’o added. “When students can eat, they can perform better in school, which in turn leads to greater opportunities in life. In so doing, Michael Kors and WFP are facilitating better opportunities for women and girls on a daily basis.”
Nyong’o, who is known for Tony-nominated “Eclipsed,” “12 Years A Slave,” for which she won an Oscar, “Black Panther,” “Queen of Katwe” and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” is in the midst of a whirlwind year. Despite the many demands on her time, Nyong’o is an engaged advocate for women and girls and an avid supporter of wildlife conservation, serving as Global Elephant Ambassador for the international conservation organization WildAid.
“Lupita is smart, talented, compassionate and strong, with an extraordinary ability to inspire others,” said Kors. “I’m thrilled that she has joined us in the fight against hunger. Her empathy, honesty and commitment will make her a powerful force for change in the effort to build a world with zero hunger.”
The theme of this year’s Watch Hunger Stop campaign is Food Is Love, words that Kors often uses when talking about why he was drawn to the issue. Kors believes that school meals provide children in food-insecure regions with the nutrition they need to grow and to thrive, and that they provide an incentive for families to send their children, especially girls, to school.
Each October, to mark World Food Day on October 16, Michael Kors offers special-edition products specially designed to raise funds for WFP. This year, the products are a t-shirt and a tote featuring the word LOVE. For every Love t-shirt or tote sold, Michael Kors will donate all profits to children in need through the WFP. It will also donate 100 additional meals to WFP if customers take a selfie while wearing their Watch Hunger Stop Love t-shirt or tote and posting it online with the hashtag #watchhungerstop. The unisex t-shirt, offered in black and white, will retail for $40. The black canvas tote with leather handles will sell for $59.
During the month of October, customers can also make a donation directly to WFP at the register in select Michael Kors stores around the globe.
“Food is a simple, essential need, but solutions to hunger need to be thoughtful,” said Kors. “We’ve supported WFP’s school meals programs over the years because they focus on making communities stronger and more self-sufficient. They also understand how important it is to provide opportunities for women and girls to break the cycle of poverty. We’re proud to work together with them toward zero hunger.”
