Auburn University’s Committee of 19 and Pink by Victoria’s Secret are working together to combat local hunger with a “Hunger Bash” to take place Oct. 13, 2009 in conjunction with "Hunger Week."

The "Hunger Bash" will consist of a cook-off competition, live entertainment by Earnest Goes to Jazz and Matt Kooken and special guest speaker, Nell Fortner, the Women’s Head Basketball Coach and the official AU spokesperson for "War on Hunger."

Cole Sterling, an SGA representative for the Committee of 19, has been working on coordinating this event with other Committee of 19 members for the past five weeks. Sterling says the event was created to offer a new and fun way for people to get involved with Committee of 19 and the "War on Hunger."

“We are really passionate about fighting world hunger and malnutrition,” says Sterling.




The Hunger Bash will take place at the Sigma Chi Fraternity House; doors open at 7 p.m. Fifteen organizations will participate in the steak cook-off competition and will be judged by a panel of five judges.

This year, the "Hunger Bash" will replace the "Dancing with the Stars" event that has taken place in the past. The event is open to the public but a minimum donation of two canned goods is requested for admission.

The donations collected will be given to the East Alabama Food Bank and will be credited toward the "Beat Bama Food Drive" competition which officially kicks off Oct. 12th.

Those interested in participating in the cook-off pay a $50 registration fee, as well as provide their own food and grill. The $7,500 raised from the 15 organizations participating will go directly to the "War on Hunger," associated with the "World Food Programme."

The first place winner will be announced at the AU vs. Kentucky football game. All other participants will receive fifty spirit points awarded by the SGA. The three finalists will receive a graduated amount of 50 extra spirit points, with the winner receiving a total of 150 points and bragging rights.

The Committee of 19’s goal is to create a "War on Hunger" model that is suitable for replication by other universities across the nation and around the globe. They bring advocacy for the 963 million people that go to bed hungry every day. Their name comes from the 19 cents that it takes for the "World Food Programme" to feed a child in the developing world.