McDonald’s new ad is raising awareness about the Syrian refugee crisis

By Jen haupt

September 21, 2015

By Jen haupt

September 21, 2015

In the past few weeks, countless heart-wrenching stories have emerged detailing the current refugee crisis coming out of Syria. The ongoing struggles of the Syrian people who are striving to find a safe environment and better life, have made headlines around the world and individuals, countries, and human rights groups have spoken up to pledge their help, even as some nations turn a blind eye.

In addition, various restaurant chains are now coming together to do their part to support lessening the impact of hunger among Syrian refuges — half of whom are children. This week, McDonald’s has launched the creation of a 30-second ad to raise awareness about this hunger problem and encourage viewers to donate to the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP). The ad aired today, on the U.N. International Day of Peace, and notes that the ongoing Syrian civil war has resulted in the biggest refugee crisis since World War II.

McDonald’s CEO Steve Easterbrook also tweeted the ad this morning:

To fund the ad campaign, McDonald’s teamed up with companies like Google, Facebook, Burger King, Dreamworks Animation, United Airlines, and more. According to the WFP, donations received as a result of the ad campaign will go toward its emergency response fund, and will assist refugees in Syria as well as Iraq, Yemen, and South Sudan. “The private sector has a significant role to play in ending hunger and promoting peace,” WFP Director of Private Sector Partnerships Jay Aldous told USA Today. “And this global effort is a powerful example of brands coming together with one voice to make a tangible impact in the lives of vulnerable people.”

You can watch the full ad promoting support of the U.N. World Food Programme below – and see if you can recognize the voice of the narrator.