WhyHunger Adds Radiolab Founder Jad Abumrad As Bill Ayres Social Justice Award Recipient At Chapin Awards Gala in NYC on May 6

WhyHunger, a global nonprofit dedicated to ending hunger and advancing the human right to nutritious food, will honor 3x Peabody Award winner, MacArthur Fellow, and Radiolab founder Jad Abumrad with the Bill Ayres Social Justice Award at WhyHunger’s Chapin Awards Gala on May 6, 2026, at Cipriani 25 in New York City - tickets here. The award, named in tribute to WhyHunger co-founder Bill Ayres, honors those who are driven by moral conviction to unite communities and fight for justice.

GRAMMY® and Golden Globe Award-winning, Oscar-nominated singer/songwriter, activist, and acclaimed actress Andra Day will also perform and be honored with the Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award for using her public voice and artistry to advocate for a more just, equitable world.

Jad Abumrad is the creative force behind Radiolab and acclaimed podcasts like Dolly Parton’s America and Peabody Award-winning Fela Kuti: Fear No Man – work that has been downloaded over one billion times and is deeply rooted in amplifying the stories of marginalized communities, shining a light on the injustice and systemic issues that drive hunger. Dubbed a “master of the radio craft,” he’s known for his ability to make complex ideas feel personal and accessible. His honors include four Peabody Awards, two DuPont Awards, and the 2011 MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship. He is currently a Distinguished Professor of Research at Vanderbilt University.

Andra Day is a powerful singer and artful songwriter whose roots in gospel, jazz and the blues translate to the present with ease and finesse. Featuring the quadruple platinum single “Rise Up,” her auspicious debut album Cheers to the Fall (2015) cracked the Top 10 of the R&B/Hip-Hop charts and paved the way for a handful of Grammy nominations & win, plus an Academy Award nomination for “Stand Up for Something” (2017) from the Marshall soundtrack. Following her Golden Globe-winning portrayal of Billie Holiday in The United States vs. Billie Holiday (2021), Day’s second album of original material CASSANDRA (cherith) in 2024 moves smoothly across traditional and progressive R&B, orchestral pop, and bossa nova. Day’s participation in the 2020 PlayOn televised benefit concert helped raise over $7 million to support WhyHunger and the NAACP LDF. Beyond hunger, Day’s charitable work has championed social and racial justice, gender equality, girls’ and women’s rights, Elton John AIDS Foundation, and advocating for juvenile justice system reform.

“‘Rise Up’ began as a personal reminder to keep going when the world feels heavy, and I never imagined it would become an anthem for resilience and justice,” Andra Day shares. “To me, justice isn’t abstract — it means no one goes hungry, every child has nourishment, and every community has hope. If this song has helped even one person have more compassion or be healed, I’m grateful.”

The Chapin Awards Gala will bring together artists, activists, and supporters for a cocktail reception, dinner, and live music, all in support of WhyHunger’s mission to end hunger and its root causes. Previous event honorees have included Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Barbra Streisand, Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris, Grace Potter, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Harry Belafonte, Jackson Browne, Jason Mraz, John Mellencamp, Jon Batiste, Judy Collins, Pete Seeger, and Tom Morello. The 2026 Chapin Awards is sponsored by Bloomberg Philanthropies, Collection 18 and theSecunda Family Foundation.

In 2025, WhyHunger celebrated 50 years of impact and raised $1.4 million from its 40th Annual Hungerthon fundraiser involving Bruce Springsteen, Chef Marcus Samuelsson, SAINt JHN, Yola, Young the Giant & more. In the last five years, WhyHunger has connected 6.6 million people to food and invested $9.6 million in community-led solutions globally. The nonprofit works in the United States and 24 countries around the globe to end hunger and advance the human right to nutritious food for all.

To learn more about WhyHunger and how you can support the movement to end hunger, visit www.whyhunger.org, and follow on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram.