New York, NY - 14-year old Raystone recording artist Jessarae has been announced as the youngest ambassador for WhyHunger's Artists Against Hunger & Poverty Campaign.  In celebration of this unique collaboration, Jessarae will perform at a special "Music To Mend" WhyHunger Benefit, to be held on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at Drop Off Service in New York City.  All proceeds from the event will be donated to WhyHunger and the Echoes of Hope Foundation.

 

Since last year's release of his debut EP, Damaged Heart, Jessarae has been rapidly gaining popularity among music lovers of all ages, through his weekly live performance webcasts series and numerous high-profile special concert appearances. Recent highlights include performances at the 2010 Olympics, Harmonies For Haiti Benefit at LA's House Of Blues, and The Sundance Film Festival.  The talented singer/songwriter is currently working on his full-length CD to be released later this year, and is poised to establish the young artist as one of music's hottest emerging new talents.

 

"WhyHunger is honored to welcome Jessarae as the youngest member of our Artists Against Hunger & Poverty program. We are excited to work with such a talented and insightful artist as Jessarae to help spread awareness about the issues of hunger and poverty with the hope to inspire a new generation," stated Hillary Zuckerberg, Director of WhyHunger's Artists Against Hunger & Poverty program.

"I am humbly honored to be a part of WhyHunger's, Artists Against Hunger & Poverty campaign. My mission is to educate my peers on this crucial problem we face here in the United States as well as the rest of the world," commented Jessarae.
 

To learn more about Jessarae, find out about upcoming appearances and the new album, visit www.jessarae.com.  Stay tuned for more updates about Jessarae's work on behalf of WhyHunger.

WHEN:                      Tuesday, March 23, 2010

                                    9:00pm - Midnight

WHERE:                   Drop Off Service

                                    211 Avenue A (between 13^th & 14^th)

                                    New York, NY

 

ADMISSION*:         $50.00 per person

                                    $200 per six-person table

                                    (only checks & cash accepted at door)

*Includes Open Bar donated by Drop-Off Service owners Martin Kynaston and Laura Morand

                                    (Ages 21 and over)

 

For further event info and to purchase tickets in advance, contact Laura Baker, Echoes of Hope at 310.452.3500 or visit their website at www.echoesofhope.org.

 

About WhyHunger:
WhyHunger is dedicated to fighting the root causes of hunger and poverty by supporting grassroots organizations that create self-reliance, economic justice and equal access to nutritious and affordable food. Founded in 1975 by the late musician and activist Harry Chapin and current Executive Director Bill Ayres, WhyHunger works to put an end to the hunger suffered by 49 million Americans and more than 1 billion people worldwide. WhyHunger's main programs are: the National Hunger Hotline (1-866-3-HUNGRY), a service for individuals in need of emergency food assistance to soup kitchens, food banks, shelters, government programs and community organizations in their neighborhoods; the Grassroots Action Network, which provides information, networking opportunities, capacity building and access to more than 8,000 anti-hunger and poverty community organizations across the United States and around the world; Global Movements, a program linking the organization's domestic work to broader global movements for food sovereignty and the basic rights to food, land, water and sustainable livelihoods; and Artists Against Hunger & Poverty, which is supported by Bruce Springsteen, Carlos Santana, Michael McDonald, Chicago, Earth, Wind & Fire, Joss Stone, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, Jackson Browne, O.A.R., Papa Roach and many others. For additional info visit: www.whyhunger.org.

 

About Echoes of Hope

Founded by Stacia and Luc Robitaille, Echoes of Hope, strives to awaken the spirit of hope in the lives of deserving at-risk and emancipated foster youth by providing the resources, knowledge, skills, love and support they need to reach their full potential. For additional info visit: www.echoesofhope.org.

 

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For press credentials and further information contact:

For Jessarae:                                                                For WhyHunger:

Ginger Greager                                                            Lisa Ann Batitto

Ph. 917.796.5596                                                         Ph. 212-629-0853

email: ginger@ggpublicrelations.com                         email: lisa@whyhunger.org