(Marketwired) -  On 21 September, the International Day of Peace, global brands are joining forces across industries and geographies in an unprecedented effort to highlight the vital role of food assistance in creating a more peaceful world. Many companies are donating television and digital media channels to drive support for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the frontline agency fighting hunger. 

As the world's refugee crisis grows and humanitarian resources are stretched, this multi-industry effort championed first by McDonald's represents a powerful, tangible way for people to make a real difference toward peace and support refugees and displaced people struggling daily to feed their families. Supporting companies include Burger King, Cargill, DreamWorks Animation, Facebook, Google, MasterCard, McCain Foods, McDonald's, OMD, Twitter, TBWA and United Airlines.

"Today is about people coming together across regions and cultures to take action for a hunger-free and peaceful world," said WFP Executive Director Ertharin Cousin. "Food assistance plays a powerful role in times of conflict by saving lives and alleviating suffering. Food brings and keeps families together. Food security gives families hope during desperate times while eliminating the need for families to resort to extreme and harmful measures as the only option for survival."

On television and online, several companies are using donated media and social channels highlighting a 30-second WFP-branded commercial called "Symbols." TBWA developed the creative for the commercial with funds provided by McDonald's. The commercial highlights the connection between war and hunger, the magnitude of current needs and how a donation to WFP can make a difference. Many of the companies are also supporting the effort by amplifying the message from their social media pages with related artwork including a call to support affected families by donating to WFP.

"Humanity has one future together. This effort provides a great example of people and companies joining forces to make sure we achieve the goal of a zero hunger future," added Cousin.

All funds raised from this effort will go to WFP's emergency response fund that is used to support WFP's most critical operations, including crises in and around Syria, Iraq, South Sudan and Yemen. With more people displaced now than any time since World War II, the needs are greater than the resources.

"The private sector has a significant role to play in ending hunger and promoting peace," said Jay Aldous, WFP Director of Private Sector Partnerships. "And this global effort is a powerful example of brands coming together with one voice to make a tangible impact in the lives of vulnerable people."

WFP is the world's largest humanitarian agency fighting hunger worldwide, delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. Each year, WFP assists some 80 million people in around 80 countries.

Follow us on Twitter @wfp_media

For more information please contact (email address: firstname.lastname @ wfp.org):
Peter Smerdon 
WFP/Rome 
Tel. +39 06 6513 2150 
Mob. +39 342 878 4107

Tyler Guthrie 
WFP/Rome 
Tel. +39 06 6513 3873 
Mob. +39 348 024 4246

Damian Kean 
WFP/Bangkok 
Tel. +66 2 6598 616 ext. 2160 
Mob. +66 81 701 9208

Bettina Luescher 
WFP/Geneva
Tel. +41 22 917 8564
Mob. + 41-79-842-8057

Gregory Barrow
WFP/London
Tel. +44 20 72409001
Mob. +44 7968 008474

Gerald Bourke
WFP/New York
Tel. +1-646-5566909
Mob. +1-646 525 9982

Monica Salvitti
WFP/Sydney
Tel. +61 40 040 6886

World Food Programme (WFP)

World Food Programme (WFP)

More from World Food Programme (WFP)