text: In Response to New USDA Report Showing 50 Million Americans at Risk of Hunger, New PSA Campaign Launches
  www.feedingamerica.org > Hunger in America > News and Updates > Press Room > Press Releases > In Response to New USDA Report Showing 50 Million Americans at Risk of Hunger, New PSA Campaign Launches
  The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Economic Research Service reported earlier this week that more than 50 million Americans, including 17 million children, live in hunger. The 2009 report on Household Food Insecurity in the United States illustrates how the issue of hunger is affecting our country. To raise national awareness among adults about the growing problem of hunger, Feeding America and the Ad Council today announced the launch of a new series of national public service advertisements (PSAs) featuring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and other actors, designed to motivate Americans to get involved in the fight against hunger.
  "The USDA report confirms what we already know–that domestic hunger is still on the rise," remarked Vicki Escarra, President and CEO of Feeding America."On behalf of our food banks who have been working tirelessly to feed people in need, we thank our Entertainment Council members, our numerous celebrity friends and the Ad Council for helping us bring national awareness to the growing problem of hunger."
  "Research continues to reveal the astounding number of our neighbors that continue to struggle with hunger in America," according to Peggy Conlon, President & CEO of The Advertising Council."We are proud to partner with Feeding America and the talent that generously donated their time for the PSAs to shed light on this critical issue. We hope that Americans throughout the country will be motivated to reach out to their local food banks to help those in need."
  "We are compelled, obliged, even humbled, especially during these hard times, to be partnering with Feeding America," said Chuck McBride, Co-President & Chief Creative Officer of Cutwater."By raising the collective consciousness of hunger with an engaging message of proximity and participation, we feel we can turn the tide on a threat that even the most skeptical person believes shouldn't exist in this country."
  Cutwater has always been recognized as one of the best creative shops in town – consistently honored in award shows, and consistently producing surprising campaigns around the world. This combined with a depth of strategic and new media thinking has allowed us to build some pretty amazing success stories in a very short period of time.