NEW YORK -- Country star Kenny Rogers, who took up the crusade against world hunger following the death of singer Harry Chapin, presented $100,000 in prizes Tuesday for media contributions to the battle against global famine.
The World Hunger Media Awards were organized 18 months after Rogers told Chapin he was willing to give $1 million to the campaign.
Chapin, who had worked tirelessly for years to fight world hunger, quickly proposed giving cash prizes to books, articles or films that stimulated interest in the problem. A few weeks later Chapin was killed in a car accident.
'Harry Chapin literally embarrassed me into giving a donation,' Rogers said in an earlier interview at his Bel Air, Calif., mansion. 'But money to those who have it is easy to give away. Time is the hardest thing and time is what Harry gave.
'Harry had a theory that when you ask 100 people and you badger them, three of them will come through. I really loved his attitude, and it was very contagious. His was a gift of personal time. It's my money and his plan.'
Rogers, one of 11 children who was raised in a one-room home in Houston, concedes it is 'impossible for anyone in this country' to empathize with people who are genuinely hungry.
'It's easier to empathize with something you've experienced -- like the pain experienced by the death of a friend or relative -- than it is to understand something you haven't experienced,' he said.
'That's why it is hard to stimulate interest in the world hunger problem. Nobody wants to be bombarded with guilt.'
But Chapin appealed to Rogers' guilt and converted the entertainer to the cause.
'He made me feel guilty about the world hunger problem,' Rogers said. 'Harry drove me nuts. I suffered from so much guilt. I was making tremendous sums of money.
'Simply put, Harry came along and touched me in a unique way -- by making me feel guilty.'
The $10,000 prizes for best newspaper reporting went to New York Times reporter Ann Crittenden for her 17-part series 'A World to Feed,' and photographer Kent Kobersteen of the Minneapolis Tribune for his piece titled, 'Global Poverty -- The Darkening Future.'
Editor Gary Gunderson and associate editor Tom Peterson of the magazine Seeds shared in the best magazine coverage category for an issue on women and world hunger. Frances Moore Lappe, author of 'Diet for a Small Planet,' and Dr. John R.K. Robson, author of 'Famine: Its Causes, Effects and Management' were co-winners for best book.
The best film, 'Edge of Survival' whichaired on PBS and WNET, was produced by Leigh Wharton, Wharton International Films and Barbara Gordon. Producer Gene Reynolds was honored for his writing and direction in the 'Lou Grant' episode 'Hunger.'
Rogers also announced a special achievement award of $20,000 to establish two congressional fellowships in memory of Chapin.
The $10,000 prizes for best newspaper reporting went to New York Times reporter Ann Crittenden for her 17-part series 'A World to Feed,' and photographer Kent Kobersteen of the Minneapolis Tribune for his piece titled, 'Global Poverty -- The Darkening Future.'
Editor Gary Gunderson and associate editor Tom Peterson of the magazine Seeds shared in the best magazine coverage category for an issue on women and world hunger. Frances Moore Lappe, author of 'Diet for a Small Planet,' and Dr. John R.K. Robson, author of 'Famine: Its Causes, Effects and Management' were co-winners for best book.
The best film, 'Edge of Survival' which aired on PBS and WNET, was produced by Leigh Wharton, Wharton International Films and Barbara Gordon. Producer Gene Reynolds was honored for his writing and direction in the 'Lou Grant' episode 'Hunger.'
