Yoko Ono Lennon was honored on Monday night with the ASCAP Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award at a gala dinner in Manhattan for her efforts to raise money for the world’s poor through the “Imagine There’s No Hunger†campaign. The award is given each year by WhyHunger, a charity founded in 1975 by the songwriter Harry Chapin that finances anti-poverty efforts throughout the world.
For the last six years, Ms. Ono has partnered with the Hard Rock Cafe International to raise money for WhyHunger’s projects, collecting more than $1 million. She has not only served as figurehead for the campaign but allowed the use of John Lennon’s image and the slogan “Imagine there’s no hunger,†from his song “Imagine,†in fund-raising. Past winners of the Harry Chapin Humanitarian award have included Ruben Blades, Wyclef Jean, Jackson Browne and Elvis Costello.