Billy Shore on No Kid Hungry and the Restaurant Industry's Role in Ending Childhood Hunger
What does it take to spend a lifetime working on a problem bigger than yourself? On The Hospitality Hangout, Billy Shore—founder and executive chair of Share Our Strength—joins live from the Prosper Forum to talk about No Kid Hungry, the movement he built to end childhood hunger in America, and why the restaurant industry is one of its most powerful allies.
Who is Billy Shore?
Billy Shore co-founded Share Our Strength in 1984 with his sister Debbie and a $2,000 cash advance on a credit card. What started as a scrappy idea grew into one of the country's most recognized anti-hunger organizations, and its No Kid Hungry campaign has become a rallying point for chefs, restaurateurs and operators who want their work to matter beyond the plate.
How can restaurants help end childhood hunger?
Billy's core message to operators is that chefs and restaurant leaders have more power to create change than they often realize. The restaurant industry controls kitchens, supply chains, culinary talent and community goodwill—exactly the assets a hunger movement needs. Pointing guests toward a cause, running an in-store campaign, or lending culinary star power can move real dollars toward feeding kids.
What is Restaurant Week for Kids?
In the conversation, Billy previews the upcoming Restaurant Week for Kids initiative—a way to bring the restaurant industry together around No Kid Hungry and turn everyday dining into a force for ending childhood hunger. For operators looking for a cause-marketing moment with genuine impact, it's a template worth watching.
Why should operators listen?
This episode is a masterclass in purpose-driven leadership: how a tiny idea becomes a national movement, why community impact and business can reinforce each other, and how restaurant brands build loyalty by standing for something. If you're thinking about the role your brand plays in its community, Billy Shore's story is a blueprint.
Listen to the full conversation with Billy Shore on The Hospitality Hangout, then subscribe for more interviews with the operators and founders shaping hospitality. New to the show? Give The Hospitality Hangout a listen.
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