Legendary musicians Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo are poised to be honored with the prestigious 2025 ASCAP Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award during the annual Chapin Awards Gala, scheduled for June 4 at the renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York City. This significant recognition celebrates their enduring contributions to both music and humanitarian efforts, showcasing their commitment to positive change.

As esteemed inductees of the 2022 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and dedicated advocates for social causes, this iconic couple, married since 1982, will join the elite ranks of honored couples, becoming the second pair to receive this award. The first couple to achieve this honor was the legendary songwriting duo Nicholas Ashford & Valerie Simpson, who were celebrated in 2010.

The Chapin Awards Gala will feature a delightful cocktail reception, an exquisite dinner, and live music performances that promise to entertain and inspire attendees. More honorees will be revealed in the upcoming weeks, adding to the excitement of this remarkable event.

This gala serves as a significant fundraising effort for WhyHunger, a globally recognized nonprofit organization devoted to ending hunger. Founded in 1975 by the late Harry Chapin and radio DJ Bill Ayres, WhyHunger focuses on supporting community-driven solutions to safeguard the human right to access nutritious food, striving for a world free from hunger.

“We are incredibly honored to accept the ASCAP Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award and align ourselves with WhyHunger in their relentless battle against hunger,” stated Benatar and Giraldo in a heartfelt joint declaration. “Music has always been a transformative force for social change, and we believe in harnessing our voices not solely for entertainment but to inspire meaningful action. WhyHunger’s mission resonates deeply with our lifelong dedication to justice and equity, and we take pride in backing their efforts to ensure that nutritious food is recognized as a fundamental human right.”

“As we commemorate WhyHunger’s remarkable 50th anniversary and reflect on our shared journey towards eradicating hunger and promoting the human right to nutritious food, it’s essential to acknowledge those who have paved the way,” said Jenique Jones, the executive director of WhyHunger, in her statement. “Honoring Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo with the ASCAP Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award highlights their steadfast commitment to social justice and their profound impact in igniting change through the power of music.”

Last year’s gala celebrated Michael Franti, recognizing his music-driven activism and his dedication through the nonprofit he co-founded with his wife, Sara, known as Do It for the Love, which aims to bring joy through music to individuals facing serious health challenges.

Throughout her illustrious career, Benatar garnered an impressive four consecutive Grammy Awards for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female from 1981 to 1984 and achieved 15 top 40 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Additionally, she has been awarded three American Music Awards and a People’s Choice Award, solidifying her status as a powerhouse in the music industry.

Harry Chapin, a celebrated singer, songwriter, and social activist, made a significant mark during his lifetime, which was tragically cut short when he lost his life in a car accident in 1981 at the young age of 38.

Chapin, known for writing and performing timeless pop/folk classics such as “Cat’s in the Cradle”—which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974—“Taxi”, and “W*O*L*D”, was an early advocate within the music industry for the global hunger movement. He co-founded WhyHunger a decade before music industry legends united as USA for Africa to produce the iconic song “We Are the World” in 1985. Throughout his life, Chapin tirelessly dedicated himself to performing at benefits and events to support various social causes, including the very benefit he was en route to when he tragically passed away.