Raving Toy Maniac

The Hunger Games fans join Oxfam America, Harry Potter Alliance to say: "Hunger is Not a Game"
Groups mark movie opening with campaign to fight hunger

March 2012 - This week, hundreds of young volunteers will set-up shop at movie theatres across America to bring fans of the highly anticipated film The Hunger Games on-board a new campaign to fight hunger. The "Hunger is Not a Game" campaign is sponsored by the Harry Potter Alliance, an organization that uses the power of story to inspire fans to work for social change. The campaign will gather support for international relief and development organization Oxfam's GROW campaign to ensure everyone has enough to eat now and in the future.

"We are honored to have the support of the Harry Potter Alliance and excited to reach a new audience of young people who are energetic and engaged in the fight against hunger and injustice," said Vicky Rateau, Campaign Manager for Oxfam's GROW Campaign. "If we can channel even a fraction of the excitement and enthusiasm about the launch of The Hunger Games towards support for practical and concrete steps to tackle hunger, great things are possible."

"Working with Oxfam is a fantastic opportunity to reach an even wider audience and partner with an organization that truly understands the challenges surrounding hunger across the globe," said Andrew Slack, Executive Director of the Harry Potter Alliance. "The GROW campaign gives our members a chance to really make a difference in their communities by putting emphasis on an issue that can effect anyone from their neighbor down the street to a child tens of thousands of miles away."

Supporters of the Harry Potter Alliance will kick-off the partnership by gathering signatures for the GROW campaign's petition to reform food aid in the US Farm Bill. Volunteers will attend hundreds of screenings of The Hunger Games across the country. Using the hashtag #notagame, the groups will engage supporters online with a broad social media campaign to raise awareness and gather pledges of support for the GROW campaign's agenda. At the movie releases HPA members will build support for the GROW campaign and collect food for food banks in their local communities.

"Our members know that change isn't easy and it requires helping others to understand what's at the root of the problem. The GROW petition does just that," said Slack. "Together they are taking action by not only gathering food for those in their neighborhoods, but educating their communities on hunger around the world."

"This isn't your grandmother's hunger campaign, we won't be asking for your money," said Rateau. "Every action we mobilize both on and offline will help us convince our leaders that reforming food aid is important to people across this country. If we are going to meet the challenge of feeding 9 billion people by 2050 without breaking the planet, we'll need a movement of engaged activists."

The Hunger Games opens in theaters across the country on March 23rd.

The HP Alliance (www.thehpalliance.org) is a 501c3 nonprofit that engages Harry Potter fans in social activism. With over 70 active chapters and 40 volunteer staff, the HPA has donated five cargo planes of supplies to Haiti, 55,000 books to schools and communities across the globe, contributed to protection for thousands in Darfur, and made huge strides in anti-genocide, LGBT, media reform advocacy, and more. Covered in hundreds of major publications and praised by JK Rowling, Harry Potter celebrities, Paul Farmer, and a slew of NGO's, the HPA recently came in 1st place in the Chase Bank Community Giving Contest on Facebook winning $250,000.

Oxfam America is an international relief and development organization that creates lasting solutions to poverty, hunger, and injustice. Together with individuals and local groups in more than 90 countries, Oxfam saves lives, helps people overcome poverty, and fights for social justice. Oxfam America is an affiliate of Oxfam. To join our efforts or learn more, go to www.oxfamamerica.org/grow