Bridges to speak to National Press Club

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13 (UPI) -- Actor Jeff Bridges is to address the National Press Club in Washington about a new effort to end childhood hunger in the United States by 2015, organizers said.

The Press Club luncheon is to take place Nov. 10.

Bridges, who won an Academy Award this year for his work in "Crazy Heart," is the national spokesman for the Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry Campaign.

"Millions of our kids can't learn in school because they are hungry," Bridges said on his official Web site. "Public charities, food banks and church pantries are doing more than ever before, but they can't keep up with the need. We can never end hunger through the wonderful work of local charities. Like other western democracies, we must end hunger through governmental leadership."

Bridges, 60, is a long-time advocate for global hunger issues. In 1983 the actor and musician founded the non-profit End Hunger Network to concentrate on fighting world hunger. The charity focuses its efforts on raising awareness through the media and generating public action to end U.S. child hunger, the Press Club said in a news release Friday.

The actor's film credits include "The Men Who Stare at Goats," "Iron Man," "The Last Picture Show," "Thunderbolt and Lightfoot," "Starman" and "The Contender."