Celebrity News May 27, 2020
Sandra Lee Appointed to United Nations World Food Program USA
On the eve of World Hunger Day, Emmy-winning television host, humanitarian, and hunger and health activist Sandra Lee has been appointed to the board of directors for the United Nations World Food Programme's United States nonprofit.
Today, with 265 million people at the brink of starvation, the World Food Program is expanding its U.S. nonprofit board of directors. Ms. Lee's appointment is a crucial move in the U.S. nonprofit's initiative to amplify its efforts in creating additional awareness and funding in order to feed the world's most vulnerable.
Lee is a longtime activist and humanitarian focused on ending childhood hunger. She is a founding board member of UNICEF's Los Angeles board of directors, was appointed as UNICEF's sole Special Nutrition Emissary, and served as a spokesperson for No Kid Hungry for nearly a decade.
Among Lee's World Food Program USA appointment responsibilities will be advocating to policymakers, large corporate organizations, and concerned Americans regarding global and domestic hunger relief initiatives. She will also be spearheading the creation of a next-gen board of directors, helping to organize mission trips to areas in need, and leading a star-studded PSA of industry leaders and influencers.
“There are now more than 265 million people nearing starvation—this cannot stand,” Lee stated. “Food is a basic human right. We must do all we can to help the most vulnerable.”
Randy Russell, World Food Program USA board chairman, said, “We are thrilled to have Sandra join us in our fight to solve global hunger. Sandra brings tremendous value, insight, and humanitarian experience that will help us extend our global reach and impact as we support and provide lifesaving food and resources to the world's hungriest and most at-risk children, women, and families.”
In the past, Lee has often worked behind the scenes pushing through legislation and securing funding in the areas of disaster relief, gender and marriage equality, homelessness, cancer, and HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment, as well as childhood- and family-focused hunger initiatives.
Lee is the recipient of the President's Volunteer Service Award, the Eleanor Roosevelt Medal of Honor, and the Albert Einstein Award of Excellence for her long-standing work in the culinary arts and home economics fields. She is also one of the TV chefs featured in the FOOD: Transforming the American Table exhibition at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.