World Food Prize Now on Display

Exhibit Featuring the World Food Prize
World Food Prize
Senators Dole and McGovern accept the World Food Prize
 
 

Senators Bob Dole and George McGovern recently were awarded the distinguished World Food Prize for their long standing commitment to eradicating world hunger. The Senators worked together in Congress beginning in the 1970’s to build bi-partisan support for anti-hunger legislation, and went on to establish the McGovern-Dole school feeding program which has helped to feed 22 million children in 41 countries since 2000.

The Dole Institute Archive documents Senator Dole’s commitment to ending hunger, both at home and abroad. As a newly elected member of the House of Representatives, Sen. Dole was a supporter of both National School Lunch and School Milk Programs. He later worked with Senator McGovern to sponsor the Food Stamp Act of 1977. This law eliminated barriers to participation in the program and significantly increased benefits.

Upon receiving the World Food Prize, Senator Dole said, “The award is important because of what has been accomplished so far and brings attention to the challenges we still face globally in ensuring that children have at least one meal a day, particularly young girls who are most vulnerable.” Studies have shown that female students are regularly kept out of school to help with household work. When meals are provided at school, female students are more likely to attend classes and be encouraged by their families to attend.

The World Food prize trophy, currently displayed in the main gallery at the Dole Institute, was designed by Saul Bass. It is composed of a stone bowl with a pewter sphere in the middle. A section of the sphere is cut out revealing a leaf design. It represents the world, our food, and the nourishment of all people.

According to the World Health Organization, more than one third of child deaths worldwide are attributed to under-nutrition. The pioneering work of Senator Dole and Senator McGovern is a testament to the fact that this terrible trend can be reversed. To learn more about the World Food Prize or the global hunger crisis, please visit http://www.who.int/topics/nutrition/en/ or http://www.worldfoodprize.org .