Hard Rock International today announced its continued partnership with global non-profit WhyHunger and activist-artist Yoko Ono Lennon to launch the “Imagine There’s No Hunger” campaign, a unified effort to raise awareness and funds to combat global hunger and poverty. As a part of the campaign and inspired by John Lennon’s iconic song “Imagine” and the 50th anniversary of its release, Hard Rock is introducing its 37th Signature Series – the John Lennon, “Imagine There’s No Hunger” Collection – for purchase online and at Hard Rock Hotels, Cafes and Casinos worldwide. The collection will feature a variety of merchandise, including two shirt designs, a hat, a mini guitar with stand and a commemorative pin, with the items ranging in price from $16.00 to $29.50.
“We’re honored to continue working alongside WhyHunger and further build upon our partnership, a relationship that has resulted in over $6.8 million raised to combat global hunger and poverty,” said Jon Lucas, Chief Operating Officer of Hard Rock International. “With music at Hard Rock’s core, this year’s campaign is especially meaningful as we look to honor John Lennon’s legacy and the 50th anniversary of ‘Imagine’, while making great strides to raise awareness and support for WhyHunger and Hard Rock’s mutual mission to end hunger.”
To make this collection even more special, Hard Rock has partnered with WhyHunger and committed 30% of proceeds from its new merchandise sales, with a minimum contribution amount of $450,000, to support WhyHunger and its mission to end worldwide hunger and poverty. Hard Rock and WhyHunger together have helped communities in 31 countries grow nutritious food to provide 9.8 million meals to 120,600 children and their families.
“We know that hunger is a solvable problem and nutritious food is a basic human right. Exacerbated by the pandemic, food insecurity rates have skyrocketed around the globe making it even more important than ever to work together on transformative solutions. Our partnership with Yoko Ono Lennon and Hard Rock International empowers us to further our mission of striking at hunger and its root causes, while paying homage to the vision John Lennon and Yoko Ono Lennon shared in the iconic song ‘Imagine’,” said Noreen Springstead, executive director at WhyHunger.
“Fifty years ago, my late husband John Lennon released the song ‘Imagine’ with the hope of inspiring a world at peace and free from hunger. Despite the challenges we face today, his impact and vision shine brighter than ever as we work to create a better, hunger-free world for families worldwide with WhyHunger and Hard Rock International,” said Yoko Ono Lennon.
In addition to the initial merchandise collection launching in April, additional merchandise will be released in September to commemorate the September 1971 release of “Imagine” 50 years earlier.
The new line of merchandise takes design inspiration from iconic photographs and the Imagine: John Lennon album cover, emoting a feeling of hope and optimism towards the campaign’s mission of ending hunger and poverty. Those looking to purchase items from Hard Rock’s John Lennon, “Imagine There’s No Hunger” Collection can visit www.shop.hardrock.com/en-us/john-lennon-imagine.
More than 25 years ago, Hard Rock developed the concept of partnering with world-renowned musicians and bands to create imaginative designs that are converted into limited-edition merchandise and sold at Hard Rock properties worldwide. A portion of the retail price from the sale of the merchandise benefits the artist’s preferred charity. Music icons including Bruce Springsteen, Pitbull, Rihanna, Imagine Dragons, U2, KISS, Eric Clapton, The Who, Jon Bon Jovi, Linkin Park, Shakira and Ringo Starr have all been part of Hard Rock’s Signature Series and Artist Spotlight programs, which have raised millions of dollars for charitable causes worldwide.
