Hunger

May 1, 2014; News & Observer

NPQ would love to hear what readers have to say about this United Way’s strategy. Mack Koonce, the CEO of the United Way of the Greater Triangle in North Carolina, is offering a $50,000 grant to the person or organization with the best idea for reducing childhood hunger. Calling the effort “100,000 Kids Hungry No More,” this United Way is open to ideas from residents of Durham, Johnston, Orange, and Wake counties.

Koonce is hoping the contest will cause thousands of people to think about childhood hunger, but he is expecting “a hundred or more” to submit an idea. “It’s not just about hunger. It’s about their education, their health,” Koonce said. “I think it’s both how detrimental it is to their whole health and psyche and education. We can work on making better schools, but it’s not going to help these kids that are hungry.”

The $50,000 can be won by an individual or organization, and it is to be spent implementing the idea. “It’s not like we don’t have enough food,” Koonce said. “This problem can be solved. We can do this one in any community, and especially in this community.”—Ruth McCambridge