The Hunger Project history

In December 1978 Mother Jones magazine published a critical article reporting the connections between Erhard, est and THP. Reporter Suzanne Gordon raised issues such as how the organization's funding was handled, and that office space or telephones for THP were often housed at est centers.

In 1979 Hoekema quoted a Hunger Project brochure that stated, ''The sole purpose of the Hunger Project is the creation of a space, a context - the end of hunger and starvation on our planet in two decades,' which he said corresponded with "estian terminology."

"Erhard founded The Hunger Project as an outlet for the creative and charitable impulses of est graduates," Garvey concluded in an article titled "Hunger Project: Erhard's est laboratory" (April 19, 1980).

In fact, on May 30, 1981 the national board of directors of Oxfam, Canada passed a resolution, which stated they would not endorse any activities or programs sponsored by THP, nor would they accept funds from the project.

Seeds Magazine published an article "It Doesn't Add Up" (December 1984), which raised serious questions regarding THP's use of measurements and statistics to prove its thesis.

And within an article titled "Hunger Project Feeds Itself" published by the McGill Daily (February 13, 1985) it was reported that relief organizations, such as CUSA, Oxfam International and the Peace Corps, had disassociated themselves from THP.

The Fifth Estate television program (Canadian Broadcast Corp.) aired a documentary about THP October 23, 1986, which once again reflected the controversy that surrounded the organization.

Erhard left our board in 1990 and has had no subsequent participation with The Hunger Project.

African Woman Food Farmer Initiative, 1999… Women grow the majority of food for household consumption in Africa, yet have been almost completely bypassed by official efforts to improve food production.

In 2000, The Hunger Project launched an initiative which has provided leadership training to about 78,000 elected women, builds networks of ongoing support, and mobilizes the media for public support.

The organization works "in partnership with 120 staff in 22 countries." THP is a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt organization in the United States and it took in more than $6 million dollars during 2002.

In 2003, The Hunger Project launched a campaign based on the “AIDS and Gender Inequality Workshop” to empower people at the grassroots level to protect themselves and alter behaviors that drive the spread of the disease.

Focus on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), 2004… Founding President of The Hunger Project, Joan Holmes, was appointed to serve on the United Nations Millennium Project Hunger Task Force.

Setting Our Strategic Direction, 2009…At the G8 Summit in July 2009, world leaders made an unparalleled financial commitment to end world hunger and there was a growing shift in development thinking toward long-term, sustainable approaches that acknowledge women as key to the process.

Heart & Sole Fundraiser and 29-year Walker, 2019 Walk for Hunger

Events for the 53rd Walk for Hunger were held virtually on May 2, 2021, and dedicated supporters got active in their neighborhoods and communities, raising more than $1.1 million to get COVID-19 food relief to kids and families across the state.