The Hunger Leadership Awards is our annual celebration of outstanding leaders in the movement to end hunger. For this year’s virtual ceremony, held Wednesday, September 16, we are recognizing leaders who prove every day that hunger is solvable.
The recipients of our 2020 Trailblazer Award are Stephen and Ayesha Curry and the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation. The Trailblazer Hunger Leadership Award is presented to individuals who are paving new paths to achieving food security in their community and using their voice and influence to create real change in reducing the prevalence of hunger. The Currys commitment to providing one million meals to students in the Oakland school system during the coronavirus pandemic, and the mission of the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation exemplifies this dedication to fighting hunger.
Stephen Curry’s on and off court legacy is marked by transformation and innovation. As one of the most-followed athletes in the world, with a combined following of over 59 million across his social platforms, Curry is one of the most influential stars both on and off the basketball court. His 10-year career in the NBA with the Golden State Warriors is marked by many firsts; he was the first person to be named Most Valuable Player by unanimous vote in NBA History and one of a select few to win MVP awards two years in a row. He holds six NBA all-star selections and three NBA Championships. Off the court, he is an emerging figure in Silicon Valley, and the athlete’s brand touts a number of direct investments in innovative consumer and enterprise technology companies. He is also the founder of the film & television company Unanimous Media specializing in Faith, Family and Sports content in tandem with Sony Studios, and is the Executive Producer for ABC’s no. 1 primetime show of the summer, Holey Moley.
Ayesha Curry is a renowned restauranteur, chef, New York Times bestselling author, producer, host of the EllenTube series “Fempire with Ayesha Curry” and was featured on the prestigious Forbes “30 Under 30” list. Her accessible approach to cooking has made her one of the most sought-after experts in food and lifestyle and has amassed over 9 million avid social media followers and subscribers. The face of today’s modern “mompreneur,” Ayesha has her own line of cookware, bedding, jewelry, kitchen textiles, and mealkits. Ayesha is an ambassador for No Kid Hungry, an organization fighting to end childhood hunger. Additionally, Ayesha recently released her own lifestyle magazine, SWEET JULY, in partnership with the Meredith Corporation. The magazine shares recipes, personal anecdotes, fashion, family-friendly ideas and features interviews with inspiring creatives, influencers, activists, professionals and entrepreneurs from all walks of life. Up next, Ayesha will be releasing her second cookbook, The Full Plate: Flavor Filled Recipes for Families With No Time and A Lot To Do, which will be available September 22, 2020.
Last year, Stephen and Ayesha Curry launched the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation, whose mission is to unlock the potential of every child by ending childhood hunger, ensuring universal access to education, and enabling active lifestyles. The family foundation is dedicated to providing underprivileged children with the fundamental resources they need to thrive in life, with an emphasis on the Bay Area and Oakland communities.
Stephen and Ayesha live in the San Francisco Bay Area with their three kids, Riley, Ryan and Canon.
The Trailblazer award will be accepted by the foundation’s CEO, Chris Helfrich. Chris is a social entrepreneur and nonprofit leader committed to finding innovative solutions to major problems. To-date, Chris has expanded the Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation to include over 30+ community partnerships including Kaiser Permanente, Workday, Salesforce, World Central Kitchen, and the Alameda County Community Food Bank and in conjunction, has helped facilitate the delivery of over 8 million meals to Oakland students and families struggling with food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to this new venture, Chris served as CEO of the Starlight Children’s Foundation, the nation’s leading organization working to transform the hospital experience for millions of seriously and terminally ill children across the U.S., and the United Nations Foundation, where he spent over five years leading Nothing But Nets, the world’s largest global, grassroots campaign to defeat malaria.
While we’re making progress in Oakland, there are still too many kids not getting enough to eat across the country. We’re facing an urgent hunger crisis in America right now: 1 in 4 children may go hungry this year. It doesn’t have to be this way. We need our government to act on systemic solutions to feed children and families in need. Together, with our partners, we will continue to advocate for a country where every child has access to the nutritious food they need to thrive.Stephen and Ayesha Curry, Founders, Eat. Learn. Play. Foundation