The Health Museum to Host Food Drive in Support of Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts

On Saturday, September 9, 2017, The John P. McGovern Museum of Health and Medical Science welcomed its latest exhibit "40 Chances: Finding Hope in a Hungry World - The Photography of Howard G. Buffett." The traveling exhibit features the work of Buffett, a philanthropist and farmer, as he traveled more than 135 countries capturing the powerful forces that fuel hunger and poverty, and is curated by the Newseum.

40 Chances: Finding Hope in a Hungry World will be on display at The Health Museum through January 1, 2018.

"Buffett's work is both powerful and empowering. It reminds us of the commonalities we share as human beings, and of how we can all make a difference individually and collectively," said Dr. Melanie Johnson, President and CEO of The Health Museum. "For Houston, we believe this message is especially poignant at this time considering the tremendous recovery efforts underway across our local region after Hurricane Harvey."

To coincide with 40 Chances: Finding Hope in a Hungry World, The Health Museum will be collecting food donations in support of the Hurricane Harvey relief effort for 40 Days from September 9 to October 18, 2017. For every 4 cans of non-perishable food items donated, The Health Museum will provide one free admission ticket to all its exhibits, including 40 Chances: Finding Hope in a Hungry World. All of the food collected at The Health Museum will be donated directly to the Houston Food Bank.

Through this initiative The Health Museum is providing Houstonians 40 Chances to Support Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts by donating canned goods and answering the following question: Will you help a neighbor in need? Interactive, educational programming such as thinktank activities, including origami gardening, water purification, and how to maintain a healthy diet with survival food from around the world will also be available for museum attendees of all ages as part of the "40 Chances" exhibition at The Health Museum. These hands-on activities are designed to engage museum attendees in developing practical solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges.

Access to 40 Chances: Finding Hope in a Hungry World is included in the regular price of admission.

"Photojournalism plays a crucial role in capturing the world around us and sharing that information with others," said Buffett. "As the world's premier institution for exhibiting photojournalism, the Newseum is the perfect place to share these photographs with a wider audience."

The photographs in "40 Chances" illustrate the causes and effects of hunger on five continents and reflect Buffett's belief that hunger is intertwined with poverty, fear, war and conflict, and lack of opportunity for women. The exhibit also includes an original Newseum film featuring Buffett and his work, as well as an interactive kiosk highlighting organizations that are working to combat hunger.

The exhibit also highlights images by Heidi Levine, winner of the International Women's Media Foundation's first Anja Niedringhaus Courage in Photojournalism Award, dedicated to the Associated Press photographer who was killed in Afghanistan in 2014 after a career covering global issueS. Levine, a freelance photojournalist, has spent her career covering conflict in the Middle East. The Howard G. Buffett Foundation works with the International Women's Media Foundation to support the work of journalists reporting on hunger, poverty and violence around the globe.

40 Chances: Finding Hope in a Hungry World was developed by the Newseum in collaboration with Howard G. Buffett Foundation. The Newseum, headquartered in Washington, D.C., promotes, explains and defends free expression and the five freedoms of the First Amendment.

The photography exhibition is presented in partnership with the Howard G. Buffett Foundation and the International Women's Media Foundation.

Celebrating its 21st anniversary, The Health Museum, John P. McGovern Museum of Health and Medical Science, is Houston's most interactive science learning center and a member institution of the world-renowned Texas Medical Center. The Health Museum is the most visited museum of its kind in the country totaling more than 180,000 visitor experiences annually, and over 2.6 million visitors and counting since its inception in 1996. Located in the heart of the city's rich and varied Museum District, The Health Museum's mission is to foster wonder and curiosity about health, medical science and the human body.

General admission to The Health Museum is free for children two and under; $8 for children 3 to 12 years old and seniors 65 and above; $10 for adults; and free from 2 pm to 7 pm on Thursdays for families. Active and retired personnel receive half-off admission for up to four people. General admission also provides access to the museum's multiple exhibits. For more information about The Health Museum visit thehealthmuseum.org.

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