Lauren Bush Lauren discovered “what she was meant to do” as a student traversing the globe with the United Nations World Food Programme. It was during that time when she met families and children who didn’t know when they could expect their next meal.
“It inspired me obviously to want to do more, and create a way really for others to engage in the issue of hunger,” Bush Lauren said Wednesday during an Afternoon MoJoe web-exclusive interview.
The model-turned-philanthropist founded FEED Projects (tagline: Creating good products that help feed the world) in 2006 when she designed the first “FEED 1” bag. Her goal was to activate people in the fight to end world hunger. Proceeds from each bag sold nourishes one child in school for a year.
FEED, together with the cosmetic company Clarins, on Wednesday launched a 10-day “Gift with Purpose” program exclusively nationwide at Macy’s. Each “FEED 10” cosmetic bag that comes with certain purchases provides 10 meals to children across the globe.
“Coming up with this Gift with Purpose program is really kind of innovative for the cosmetic industry,” Bush Lauren said Wednesday on Morning Joe. She is the niece of former President George W. Bush and the granddaughter of former President George H. W. Bush.
The multi-year partnership between both companies has provided 2.5 million meals so far. They aim to feed an additional one million individuals by the end of 2013.
The cost of each product sold by FEED has a built-in donation, which ensures the full amount of money is delivered to children around the world. The organization donates about 90% of the proceeds directly to meals; the remaining amount goes toward transportation and salaries.
“I am doing what I was meant to do,” Bush Lauren said.
(Watch more in the web-exclusive interview on Afternoon MoJoe):
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Michele Richinick