- A Series of Articles to Introduce You to the Amazing Individuals that share our goal to see an end to world hunger. They have joined an elite list of Entertainers, Sports Figures, Politicians, Industry Leaders who Global Village Champions Foundation have bestowed the honour of being our "Champions". Individuals who give of their time, effort, money and expertise to raise funds to enable the Foundation to travel to some of the poorest nations in the world to deliver much needed food, supplies and medical attention.
Article 1 - Yank Barry - Founder and CEO of Global Village Champions Foundation
Born on January 29, 1948 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Yank enjoyed 30 years in the music industry as a singer, composer, arranger and producer. He started his career in 1965 as the lead singer of the Footprints and singing “Never Say Die”. In 1967, he became the lead singer of the touring Kingsmen and is best known for the classic song “Louie, Louie”. Yank pioneered the first quadraphonic record album along with Robert Lifton and Ben Lanzaroni in 1970. He then recorded the Rock Opera “The Diary of Mr. Gray” in 1971 which led to appearances on the Mike Douglas Show, the Merv Griffin Show and the Sally Jessy Raphael Show. In 1975, Yank composed, sang and produced “Welcome Home POW’s” for then President Richard M. Nixon. He produced the Broadway show “Let My People Come” at the Imperial Theater in 1979. Yank’s career in the music industry saw him work with artists as diverse as Alice Cooper, Charlie Rich, David Foster, Tom Jones, Gary U.S. Bonds, Ben E. King, Engelbert Humperdinck and many more. He has also enjoyed success in the field of advertising jingles. Some of his numerous jingles include Kellogs Raisin Bran, Dr. Pepper, Kodak, Red Lobster and General Motors.
During his music career, Yank started some of his early philanthropic endeavors, encouraging colleagues to put on concerts for various causes helping countless people with his efforts on behalf of drug prevention, social causes and hunger.
In 1990, Yank developed VitaPro, a soy based meat replacement product. It was Yank’s entry into the food industry as founder and Chairman of VitaPro that would change his life and the lives of countless other people forever. While expanding the distribution of his soy product around the world, Yank encountered people whose desperate living conditions touched his heart. One of Yank’s core beliefs is “No one should go hungry”. He started donating his product to various charities in Canada and the US. Witnessing the tremendous need, Yank invited his dear friend Muhammad Ali to become the first Global Village Champion, and to join him in working towards a day without hunger. Yank’s philanthropic efforts, through Global Village Market, reached around the world to refugee camps, orphanages and areas struck by disaster.
Yank has traveled throughout Africa, the Orient and Asia bringing with him food, medical supplies clothing and educational tools. He has helped countless people in their time of need, going to unstable areas when very few would lend a helping hand. Through Global Village Market, Yank has provided over 450 million meals to hungry people worldwide including the Philippines.
Yank responded quickly when a catastrophic earthquake shook Port-au-Prince Haiti to the ground. Watching the news and seeing the devastation, he did not wait for the main airport to be made operational. He flew to Haiti from his home in Nassau Bahamas with a chartered private plane numerous times. He personally accompanied the shipments of food, water and medical supplies to ensure that they reached the people in need. Yank brought a team together with immediate action, going into the rubble when barely any other organization could. He brought medical supplies to make- shift hospitals. He found orphanages barely surviving on scraps amid the dust and rubble. The staff often giving up what little food they had to feed the children until Yank and his team showed up to supply food, water, clothing, candy and toys. Global Village Champions worked hand in hand with the Haiti Disaster Relief team, the Haitian Red Cross, the Haitian Rotary Club and the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital. Through these tireless efforts, he has helped numerous Haitians rebuild their lives in their native country. Yank’s ultimate goal, with the support of his army of Global Village Champions, is to knock out World Hunger.
Yank has received nearly two dozen awards recognizing his philanthropic and humanitarian efforts. He has received among others, 1998 Cote D’Ivoire Humanitarian Peace Award, 1999 Liberian Humanitarian, 2000 Juarez Hands of Love and Hope, 2005 Red Cross Humanitarian and the 2008 India – Humanitarian Service Award. In their October 2000 issue, Millionaire Magazine referred to Yank Barry as “The Man Who Could End World Hunger.”
Yank's Most Recent Award is to be named the 2010 Laureate: The International Gusi Peace Prize, the first Canadian to ever receive this recognition.
| MR. YANK BARRY |
| CANADA |
| Social Services, Philanthropy & International Humanitarianism |
| Feeding millions of children worldwide. |
To Find out more information about Yank and Global Village Champions Foundation please visit our website:A Day Without Hunger
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Jackie Bigford
Social Media Director
Global Village Champions Foundation
