Today is the biggest night of the year: Youth coast-to-coast join global
hunger movement

The World Vision 30 Hour Famine brings together teens empowering them to make a difference

MISSISSAUGA, ON, April 16 /CNW/ - Today, teens across Canada will donate their time and their appetites in support of the youth social action campaign the World Vision 30 Hour Famine. Labeled the biggest night of the year, more than 100,000 students from across the country will unite to raise funds to help vulnerable children and families in developing countries who don't have access to basic necessities like food and water. In a show of solidarity with the world's hungry, participants go without food for 30 hours so they can experience what hunger feels like first-hand.

Established 39 years ago, the World Vision 30 Hour Famine has become an annual event where Canadian teens participate in to demonstrate their commitment to making a real difference in a world where millions of children die of hunger each year.

Canadian celebrities such as rock band Faber Drive, singer-songwriter Karl Wolf and athletes Mike Fisher and Joannie Rochette, are joining 2010 Juno nominees Danny Fernandes, LIGHTS, Shiloh and The New Cities to encourage youth throughout Canada to sign-up and do the World Vision 30 Hour Famine. One of Canada's longest running youth campaigns, the 30 Hour Famine is a social movement that raises funds for community projects targeted at ending hunger and poverty in developing countries.

This year for the first time, the Famine event will feature an interactive online broadcast that will connect youth across the country via webcast. During the night of the Famine, participants can log onto Famine.ca and join thousands of their peers, coast-to-coast, by posting messages, watching videos and interacting in social media networks. Youth will also see how Famine funds will help to transform lives around the world. Danny Fernandes, Faber Drive, LIGHTS and Shiloh will also be featured on the broadcast. Much Music VJ, Sarah Taylor will be unveiling a documentary of her March trip to Malawi with World Vision.

    
    WHAT:  Famine event - national broadcast over the Internet
    WHEN:  Friday, April, 16, 2010
    TIME:  7 p.m. to 9 p.m. EST
    WHERE: Live at Famine.ca
    

The fundraising goal for this year is to raise $5 million across Canada. Funds raised from the Famine will continue to support on-going projects aimed at eradicating hunger, poverty and injustice around the world. A portion of the funds will also address immediate relief and long-term needs in Haiti such as providing emergency supplies, shelter, food and the protection of children.

For information regarding the World Vision 30 Hour Famine please visit the Famine newsroom at www.worldvision.ca/30hrfaminenews to access background information, stories, social media links as well as video clips and photographs to download.

For further information: or to arrange an interview, please contact: Karen Flores, [phone] ext. 3497, [email protected]