President & Chief Operating Officer, Dynavax
Search every verified David Novack interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. In a 2009 interview with GDTV, David Novak, then CEO and Chairman of YUM! Brands, discussed the company's partnership with the United Nations World Food Program to address global hunger. Novak stated that over a million people starve each year and that a person dies from hunger every six seconds, calling the partnership a "natural fit" for the company's global scale. He noted that YUM! Brands raised $16 million in one week and accumulated 4 million volunteer hours during a campaign, with a goal of raising at least $80 million and reaching 20 million volunteer hours over the next five years. Novak also mentioned that the company would donate close to $200 million of prepared food to the hungry in the United States. Novak highlighted the impact of food inflation, which he said had increased the World Food Program's costs by nearly 70% to feed the same number of people, adding urgency to the issue. He praised the World Food Program for not only feeding the hungry but also building infrastructure for long-term sustainability. Novak expressed optimism about the Clinton Global Initiative's focus on hunger, stating that when world leaders unite behind the cause, they can make a significant difference.
“Over a million people a year are starving and a person every six seconds dies with hunger. We looked at hunger and what the United Nations World Food Program is doing, and it was a natural fit for us to use our global scale to really make a difference.”
“Last year for our campaign we raised $16 million in just one week and had 4 million volunteer hours across our system. In the next five years, we want to raise at least $80 million and get 20 million volunteer hours because our people are so excited.”
“We will donate close to $200 million of prepared food to the hungry here in the United States as well. This is a big global initiative and we're excited to be a part of it.”
“Outside the United States, we have close to 15,000 restaurants and are big in every major country. With 35,000 restaurants worldwide, we bring awareness to an issue that needs to be solved.”
“It only takes 19 cents a day to feed a person and save a kid's life. Once people understand this, it will make a bigger difference both on the personal front and with government officials.”
“Food inflation has gone through the roof, costing the United Nations World Food Program almost 70% more to feed the same amount of people this year. This has made the issue even more pronounced and urgent for all of us committed to making a difference.”
“Even though the macro environment is tougher from a business perspective, the heart of our organization stays the same and our people are very inspired to make a difference in the world.”
“The United Nations World Food Program not only feeds the hungry but also works on building infrastructure to sustain life for people saved on a short-term basis.”
“At the Clinton Global Initiative, it's great to see how Bill Clinton and this organization have made hunger the primary focus for the coming year. When world leaders get galvanized behind this, we can truly make an even bigger difference.”
CEO and Chairman of the Board of YUM Brands, INC David Novak speaks with GDTV on the global food crisis.
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