Yum! Brands announced that it is directing $500,000 from its World Hunger Relief global effort to provide food for earthquake victims in Haiti.

Yum Brands’ World Hunger Relief is the world’s largest private-sector, hunger-relief effort, spanning 110 countries, 36,000 KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Long John Silver’s, and A&W Restaurants, to raise awareness, volunteerism, and funds for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).

Since World Hunger Relief launched in 2007, the effort has raised nearly $60 million for WFP and other hunger relief organizations and is helping to provide approximately 250 million meals, saving the lives of millions of people in remote corners of the world. More than 1.4 million of the company’s employees, franchisees, and their families have volunteered more than 15 million hours to aid hunger relief efforts in communities worldwide.

“The situation in Haiti is devastating and our sympathies go out to everyone impacted by the earthquake. Because Yum is a company with a huge heart, we immediately committed $500,000 from our World Hunger Relief effort to help the people of Haiti,” says David Novak, chairman and CEO of Yum! Brands Inc.

“I visited Haiti over a year ago after earthquakes ravaged the country. We were so moved that we immediately pledged the first $1 million raised from our World Hunger Relief campaign that year to go to Haiti,” Novak says. The funds helped WFP feed 35,000 school children for six months.

While the company has no restaurants in Haiti, employees around the globe are mobilizing to collect much-needed items and are making cash donations as well. “I’m so proud of the way our global system has rallied to provide support to Haiti in their time of need,” Novak says.

Customers can make donations to World Hunger Relief by visiting FromHungertoHope.com and company and brand web sites. Funds raised go to the United Nations World Food Program and other hunger relief organizations. Yum! Brands Foundation will match all global Yum employee donations up to a system-wide total of $500,000.

Charitable Giving, News, Yum! Brands