Bread for the World wins top anti-hunger prize

WASHINGTON (RNS) The president of a Christian anti-hunger lobbying group won the premier award for fighting world hunger. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton awarded the World Food Prize to Bread for the World President David Beckmann at the State Department on Wednesday (June 16). Beckmann, an economist and ordained Lutheran minister, shared the $250,000 […]

WASHINGTON (RNS) The president of a Christian anti-hunger lobbying group won the premier award for fighting world hunger.

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton awarded the World Food Prize to Bread for the World President David Beckmann at the State Department on Wednesday (June 16).

Beckmann, an economist and ordained Lutheran minister, shared the $250,000 prize with Jo Luck, president of Heifer International.


The World Food Prize Foundation recognizes individuals “who have advanced human development by improving the quality, quantity or availability of food in the world,” according to their website.

Bread for the World focuses its work on nutrition programs, development assistance and political advocacy. The organization works with Christian churches — Catholic, Protestant and Orthodox — to advocate for hunger causes on Capitol Hill and within their congregations.

Beckmann is also the author of “Exodus from Hunger,” and the president of the Alliance to End Hunger, which connects diverse religious and scholarly groups to political leaders.

“The progress the world has made against hunger and poverty is God moving in our time, and God is calling us now to get our country to do more to provide help and opportunity to hungry people,” Beckmann said in a statement.

Norman E. Borlaug, winner of the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize for his work with wheat production, created the prize in 1986. Iowa businessman John Ruan sponsors the program.

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