Nearly $26 million was raised in response to Rhode Island philanthropist Alan Shawn Feinstein's $1 million challenge to fight hunger in America.

Earlier this year, Feinstein pledged to match all donations of $25 or more -- up to $1 million -- to all nonprofit agencies nationwide that fight hunger. More than 1,600 such agencies participated from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, raising a combined total of $25,970,108.

Feinstein's organization, The Feinstein Foundation, divided the $1 million to all agencies participating in the challenge. California relief agencies raised the most money with a reported $3.86 million. Minnesota and Texas agencies raised more than $1.05 million in each state.

Last year's annual challenge brought in $33 million to hunger relief agencies. Feinstein's drive against hunger includes an online petition to Congress that can be found on the foundation's website.

Feinstein also launched a campaign in May to raise money for Kosovo relief, toward which he pledged $200,000.

Feinstein is an author, financial advisor and former school teacher who also launched the Young Hunger Brigade and Tufts University's Feinstein International Famine Center, which carries out projects designed to reduce hunger throughout the world.

Full text of this press release is currently found at:
http://www.feinsteinfoundation.com/press/05-11-99.html