History

As a singer-songwriter, Harry Chapin was best known for his amazing story songs like “Cat’s in the Cradle,” “Taxi,” “W*O*L*D,” and “Circle.” As a humanitarian, he also dedicated his life toward the cause of ending world hunger. He successfully lobbied congressmen and President Jimmy Carter to establish a Presidential Commission on World Hunger, he started WhyHunger (then-named World Hunger Year) and Long Island Cares (one of the country’s first regional food banks), he raised and donated millions of dollars to fight hunger, and he inspired thousands of his fans to support the cause.

Just a few short months after Harry died tragically in a car accident on the Long Island Expressway in July of 1981 at the age of 38, a small group of concerned citizens in Croton-on-Hudson, NY, decided to create an annual race in his name to raise funds to fight hunger and to provide food to children and adults in need, locally, across the U.S. and around the world.

The Harry Chapin Memorial Run Against Hunger is organized and managed by a commitee of volunteers and is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Your donations are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

In Croton-on-Hudson, we helped establish the Cortlandt Emergency Food Bank and continue to support it and such organizations as the Croton Caring Committee, Caring for the Homeless of Peekskill (C.H.O.P.), Hillside Food Outreach in Pleasantville, Food Bank for Westchester, and WhyHunger.

In 2007, through the efforts of former Croton resident and now US State Department Officer Robert Kerr, we linked up with two Kenyan marathon stars: Tegla Loroupe, two time NYC Marathon winner; and Paul Tergat, NYC Marathon winner in 2004, on a humanitarian project dear to Tegla’s heart. In recognition of this developing relationship the Run Against Hunger decided to make a substantial contribution toward building a kitchen at Tegla’s planned Peace Academy in Kapenguria, Kenya.

In 2009, we made a contribution to the Carolyn Belshe Orphanage in Cambine, Mozambique. Because of nasty weather on Race day 2009, we had a surplus of Race T-Shirts, so we sent them along as well. We subsequently received the following update and photos:

“The 2009 donation by the Harry Chapin Run for Hunger Foundation went a long way in helping the orphanage achieve its long range goal of a sustainable food supply for the 53 children at the Carolyn Belshe Orphanage (CBO) in Cambine, Mozambique.

Rice, a staple in the children’s diet, and costing $.50/lb at the market to buy, was never grown in the region before. With this donation land was secured, prepared and a crop planted, with wonderful results. They want to increase the crop by 4 times the size of this first planting in 2011.

All the kids at CBO say obrigado (thanks) to the Harry Chapin organization for being so generous on their behalf.”

“When in doubt, do something!” — Harry Chapin