Seattle, WA (February 16, 2012) — According to a new 30 Hour Famine study, conducted online in January by Harris Interactive, more than half of teens (55%) say social media sites like Facebook and Twitter have made them more aware of the needs of others. This is a huge increase from 2011 when a little more 4 in 10 (44%) said their use of social media made them more aware. The study also says 2 in 3 teens (68%) agree that the benefits of social media outweigh the risks.

According to the study, more than nine out of ten (91%) agree that it’s important to volunteer locally. At the end of this month, some 200,000 teens will go hungry as part of World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine to raise funds and hunger awareness. Since 1992, 30 Hour Famine has raised more than $150 million to fight world hunger. This is the fourth year World Vision has surveyed American youth to get a better idea of what they’re thinking. 30 Hour Famine has close to 30,000 Facebook friends.

“The jump in the number of teens who say social media sites make them more socially aware is a sign of the times,” says Regina Corso, Senior Vice President, Harris Poll, Public Relations and Youth Research at Harris Interactive. Michele Tvedt, World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine Manager says, “It’s exciting to see our youth using the tools at their fingertips like social media to have a direct impact on the world.” Tvedt has personally done The Famine for 13 years, adding up to more than 390 hours over the years.

While many teens will do 30 Hour Famine in late February, others will participate April 27^th, 28^th. Teens forsake food for 30 hours to get a taste of what the world’s poorest children face. Prior to the event, teens raise funds by explaining that $1 can help feed and care for a child a day. Teens consume only water and juice as they participate in local community service projects (food banks, soup kitchens and homeless shelters). Last year’s 30 Hour Famine raised $9.5 million to fight hunger. This year’s goal is $10 million.

Tonight, almost 1 billion people worldwide will go to bed hungry. Almost 22,000 children die each day from hunger and preventable diseases. Chronic poverty, affecting half the people on earth, is the cause. Nearly 3 billion people live on less than $2 a day. Funds raised this year for 30 Hour Famine will be sent to 10 countries including Haiti, the Horn of Africa, Burundi, Malawi, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Some 30 Hour Famine funds also address poverty here in the U.S.

30-Hour Famine groups available for interviews the weekend of Feb. 24-25 (or in late April) also in several other cities across the nation:

• Twin Cities (Lake Elmo, Minnesota)
  RockPoint Church – Teens here have raised $65,000 for 30 Hour Famine. More than 250 expected.
• Columbia, South Carolina
  Trinity Church – 150 youth expected to participate. Trinity has raised more than $66,000 for campaign.
• Valparaiso, Indiana (northwest Indiana)
  Calvary Church – 200 teens expected to attend. Church has raised $85,000 to fight hunger.

30 Hour Famine Survey 2012 Facts:
The poll was conducted online by Harris Interactive on behalf of World Vision, an international Christian relief and development organization, between January 18 and Jan 26, 2012 via the Youth Query omnibus service among 535 U.S. youth ages 13 to 17 years old. For complete methodology, including weighing variables, please contact John Yeager.

Available for interview:
Michele Tvedt, 30 Hour Famine National Manager for World Vision. Contact John Yeager.

For more info:
www.30hourfamine.org or www.facebook.com/wv30HF or call 800-7-FAMINE.

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About World Vision:
World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. We serve the world's poor — regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender. For more information on their efforts, visit WorldVision.org/press or follow them on Twitter at @WorldVisionNews