“The ultimate aim of the quest must be neither release nor ecstasy for oneself, but the wisdom and the power to serve others.” — Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces
Children Are Dying. Will We Answer the Call?
UNICEF has declared this the worst hunger crisis in its 75-year history. Forty-five million people—many of them children—are on the brink of starvation. The toll is catastrophic.
The children are crying out—will we answer?
In moments of darkness, history reminds us of the extraordinary power of unity. In 1985, Live Aid galvanized more than a billion people across 110 countries. It hosted 40 simultaneous telethons and, in just 16 hours, raised the equivalent of $400 million for famine relief in Africa.
It was a cultural awakening—proof that when music, conscience, and technology converge, the human spirit can rewrite history.
Now, forty years later, the need is greater—and so is our capacity to meet it.
Photo: Clinton Global Initiative Commitment to Produce Heart in Action at the personal invitation of President Clinton 2006.
Heart in Action: A Global Broadcast of Compassion
This Thanksgiving, the world will come together for the launch of the Heart in Action Global Humanitarian Campaign, beginning with the World Children’s Day Benefit Concert—a global broadcast event rooted in compassion and powered by music, technology, and love.
Led by our Emmy Award–winning team—headed by the legendary Louis J. Horvitz (Live Aid, the Oscars, the Grammys)—this Los Angeles-based live event will unite artists, world leaders, and everyday heroes to uplift the world’s most vulnerable children.
Funds will directly support UNICEF, Feeding America, Save the Children, and frontline humanitarian partners around the globe. This is more than a concert. It’s a cultural milestone—a global reckoning that dares us to remember who we are. The universal language of music reminds us of our shared humanity.
International Collaboration Is at the Heart of This Mission
“Given this is an ‘open hearts to serve the world in a time of crisis’ campaign,
UNOCHA could help lead this.”
— Tensai Asfaw, United Nations Humanitarian Affairs
A Vision Forged in Fire
“On 9/11, as I watched the towers fall, I was shown a vision: a planet in crisis—and a path to healing” shares Lili Fournier.
That moment sparked a dream to build a humanitarian campaign bold enough to cross borders and big enough to shift global consciousness. That vision is now becoming reality. Heart in Action is not a dream. It’s now a movement. And the moment has arrived.
Why Now Is the Time
The timing could not be more urgent—or more symbolic:
- November 20 – World Children’s Day calls us to protect children’s rights.
- November 22 – Heart in Action Concert launches globally.
- November 22 – G20 Summit convenes world leaders in South Africa.
- November 27 – American Thanksgiving: In the wealthiest nation on Earth, 13 million children still go hungry.
We call on world leaders to commit billions in urgently needed humanitarian aid—the true legacy of Live Aid. Hunger is here. Hunger is now. Gratitude without generosity is hollow. Now is the time to give it meaning.
The Moral Imperative
Every great spiritual tradition calls us to protect the vulnerable. This isn’t just about food. It’s about who we are as a species.
- Christ demanded love in action.
- Jewish wisdom teaches Tikkun Olam—to repair the world.
- Islam calls for caring for the vulnerable.
- Buddhism teaches compassion and loving-kindness.
All faiths. Many paths. One call: Love deeply. Serve boldly. Heal relentlessly. Put your heart in action. This is a global act of compassion, a rising chorus refusing to be silent in the face of suffering.
Photo: Lili Fournier with Alicia Steele hosting a live pledge special to raise funds for PBS.
Why Hollywood Must Lead
Los Angeles is more than a city. It’s a place of storytelling. A cultural megaphone heard around the world. Hollywood has shaped hearts and inspired movements for generations. Now it can help heal a wounded world. A live global broadcast from L.A. can reignite our collective conscience. This is Hollywood’s moment—not just to entertain, but to lead a cultural transformation for the good of all.
Music Has the Power to Heal, Unite, and Transform
Picture this:
- Cities and countries raising funds side by side through a unified digital platform.
- A global wave of generosity—one click, one stream, one donation at a time.
- Fashion and shopping livestreams tied to Women’s Day Live and World Girls’ Day, powered by purpose, rivaling China’s $156B Singles Day.
Heart in Action is not a one-night event. It’s a sustainable movement aligned with UN-recognized global days, designed to support children, women, and youth through food security, education, empowerment, and innovation.
This is the future of philanthropy. A cultural legacy powered by empathy. A chance to rise above what divides us—and unite for what matters most.
A Global Digital Movement
We live in a world with 8 billion mobile phones. That’s 8 billion potential acts of kindness.
We invite AT&T, Verizon, Jio, and global telecom leaders to turn phones into engines of hope.
With $1 “text-to-give” campaigns, we can unlock billions in donations and connect people across every continent. Every tap becomes a lifeline. Every click, a gesture of love in motion.
This movement can also close the gender digital divide, empowering 343.5 million women and girls—and adding an estimated $1.5 trillion to global GDP by 2030.
How You Can Help
Now, the universe is asking all of us to act—for the world’s children. They don’t have time to wait. If your child were starving, you’d do everything in your power to save them. Now we must do the same for someone else’s child.
This campaign has been Lili’s life’s work—24 years, five near-miracles, and a relentless belief that the world can do better.
As Paulo Coelho wrote:
“When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
What We Need Now
To make this a reality, we are calling on visionary partners to step forward and help us fund:
- Top-tier production, talent, and broadcast partnerships
- A global humanitarian franchise to reach hundreds of millions
- A grassroots network of Heart in Action teams around the world
Live Aid happened in 21 days in 1985 because they had the will. We have 66 days. Why do it? Because caring is what makes us human.
Photo: Lili Fournier with her granddaughter, and great-granddaughter
Our Moment of Truth as a Human Family
Who are we?
What do we stand for?
What are we willing to fight for?
This is not a rhetorical question. This is the question.
Let us answer with action.
Let us lead with courage.
Let us serve with love.
Let us show the children of the world:
We see you. We hear you. And we will rise to catch you before you fall.
“Music is the language of the spirit. Putting music’s power to work for good may be more important than it’s ever been. It lifts the spirits of millions everywhere, bringing awareness to critical issues that can trigger action, funding, and ultimately results—to help repair a world so badly in need of repair.”
— Lucian Grainge
This Thanksgiving, let us show the best of who we are. Our human family is suffering. Will you answer the call? Together, we can forge a legacy that lives for generations.
About Lili Fournier
Lili Fournier is a visionary filmmaker, producer, and global humanitarian strategist whose life’s work has been guided by a singular epic Quest: to harness the power of media and culture to move humanity’s heart into action.
She is the founder of the Heart in Action Global Humanitarian Campaign, a bold international movement uniting media, technology, and philanthropy to confront the world’s most urgent crises—recognizing poverty and inequality as the root causes of child hunger and human suffering.
Her acclaimed Quest series on PBS reached millions, inspiring audiences with its timeless message of courage, transformation, and the heroic path. For more than two decades, Lili has forged alliances with world leaders, cultural icons, and changemakers to ignite this global movement.
Her driving conviction is clear: Empowering and educating women and children is not only a moral imperative—it is humanity’s greatest untapped force for progress.
Photo: Lili Fournier with her husband Gerald
A Personal Reflection from Lili Fournier
Gerard is the love of my life. What husband would allow his wife to devote 15 years full-time to a mission, giving away all their money in pursuit of a dream? He did—with unwavering faith and courage.
Tragically, Gerard suffered a stroke last year. I believe it was the chronic stress of carrying the burden of how to keep going, how to bring this mission to life.
Through it all, my motto has remained the same: Never give up. No matter what it takes.
These times are calling each of us to walk a heroic path.
We each have the strength to meet our greatest challenges.
To me, love is the ultimate realism. Everything else is an illusion.
How to Get Involved
To support or invest in the World Children’s Day Concert and the ongoing Heart in Action Global Humanitarian Campaign, or to join our global coalition of strategic partners, please contact:
Contact: lili@womensdaylive.com
Website: www.heartinaction.org (interim)
Campaign Hub: www.womensdaylive.com
About Lili: www.lilifournier.com
Brief: Heart in Action
Be First to Comment