Lennon License Plates Being Used to Fight Hunger

On what would have been John Lennon's 68th birthday, Yoko Ono and Michael Towner of Florida's Foundation Consultants have announced that the Imagine license plate campaign will be expanded from Florida to the other 21 states where money can be raised through specialty license campaigns.


Ono had originally agreed to the campaign, which uses the famous self-portrait of Lennon along with the word Imagine, in the state of Florida as a way to raise money for the Florida Association of Food Banks. As of October, the campaign had raised $786,125 for Feeding America through the issuing of 31,445 specialty plates.

Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America, said “As the economic crisis worsens, more and more people are coming to food pantries and soup kitchens served by our network of food banks, desperately seeking help to feed themselves and their families.” Feeding America is the United States' largest hunger-relief charity, providing food to over 25 million Americans each year.

Michael Towner explains the new strategy. "We are following on from our efforts in Florida to take the plate to Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Illinois and then move into the remaining 17 states that provide a revenue generating specialty license plate program. This will have a tremendous impact and provide critical funding to alleviate hunger in those states where they are now facing increased demand and decreased funding. I am sure John would smile as he sees his image on cars throughout the U.S.A.”