AceShowbiz - The acclaimed artist Andra Day will be honored with the Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award at the upcoming WhyHunger Chapin Awards Gala. The event is scheduled for May 6, 2026, at Cipriani 25 in New York City.

WhyHunger is a global nonprofit organization committed to ending hunger and promoting the right to access nutritious food worldwide. The Chapin Awards Gala serves as a major fundraising and awareness event to support these critical missions.

Andra Day is widely recognized for her powerful hit "Rise Up," which earned her a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Performance in 2016. Additionally, she received significant acclaim for her Oscar-nominated portrayal of jazz icon Billie Holiday in The United States vs. Billie Holiday. In 2022, she won a Grammy Award for the soundtrack album of that film.

Reflecting on the impact of "Rise Up," Day shared, "'Rise Up' began as a personal reminder to keep going when the world feels heavy, and I never imagined it would become an anthem for resilience and justice." She further emphasized her humanitarian outlook, stating, "To me, justice isn't abstract - it means no one goes hungry, every child has nourishment and every community has hope." She expressed gratitude that her song might have helped others cultivate compassion or healing.

The Chapin Awards Gala will feature a cocktail reception, dinner, and live music performances. Previous recipients of the award include notable artists such as Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Barbra Streisand, Elvis Costello, Emmylou Harris, Grace Potter, Darryl "DMC" McDaniels, Harry Belafonte, Jackson Browne, Jason Mraz, John Mellencamp, Jon Batiste, Judy Collins, Pete Seeger, and Tom Morello.

Day has been actively involved in charitable efforts beyond WhyHunger’s mission. Notably, her participation in the 2020 PlayOn televised benefit concert helped raise over $7 million to support WhyHunger and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund (LDF). Her philanthropic work also advocates for social and racial justice, gender equality, girls' and women's rights, the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and juvenile justice system reform.

In 2025, WhyHunger celebrated five decades of impact, raising $1.4 million through its 40th annual Hungerthon fundraiser. This event included performances and contributions from Bruce Springsteen, Chef Marcus Samuelsson, SAINt JHN, Yola, Young the Giant, among others. Over the past five years, WhyHunger has connected 6.6 million people to food and invested $9.6 million in community-led solutions worldwide.

The upcoming 2026 Chapin Awards Gala not only honors Andra Day for her artistic achievements but also recognizes her commitment to humanitarian causes that align with WhyHunger's mission to end hunger and promote hope globally.