Photo: (Getty)
We know you've got quite the appetite for Cody Simpson's new soon-to-be released album, but in the meantime, you can join Cody in the fight against real hunger. He's hooked up with ConAgra Foods' Child Hunger Ends Here campaign, and has just picked his winners -- as has Amber Riley, Tori Kelly and Scooter Braun -- for the Fill a Heart cover contest.
Tori Kelly and Amber Riley filled us in on the cover contest before, and shared their renditions of "Fill a Heart," too. From the covers that were submitted into the contest, each celeb judge picked their three faves! The song has become an anthem in the fight against hunger. Remember that when you buy specially labeled ConAgra foods and enter the marked code on the campaign's site, you donate a meal to a child. Since about one in five kids doesn't know where their next meal is coming from, this can really make a diff.
I spoke to Cody to learn why he got involved in the campaign, why his contest winners stuck out to him, and what he considers paradise. And be sure to check out the winners of the contest below, after the Q&A!
ACT: Why did you decide to get involved with the Child Hunger Ends Here campaign?
CODY: Recently my manager Scooter [Braun] actually told me about the campaign. It was really when I heard the statistics of how many kids in the U.S. don't know where their next meal is coming from that really shocked me. It inspired me to get involved. I love doing things for teenagers and kids because it's something I can relate to and connect with. And ever since I realized I have some kind of a voice among young people, I wanted to make sure I use that voice for good and give a positive message. That's why I got involved.
ACT: How did you pick your faves for the Fill a Heart cover contest? What stood out about them?
CODY: I picked three. I picked Mackenna, Natalie, and Marienne. First of all, with Mackenna, I loved the energy that she brought to it. I thought Natalie brought perfect emotion and heart to the song. I think Marienne owned what she was doing. You could really hear it in her voice.
ACT: What can people do to continue to fight child hunger?
CODY: Get involved in the campaign at www.childhungerendshere.com. That's really all I can say. Donate any possible food. I want to give my fans a message: start getting involved at a young age so you can grow up helping.
ACT: If you only had $1.50 to spend on food each day, what would you be having today?
CODY: That's an awesome question. A dollar fifty a day? Gosh, I guess fruit and water.
Now, without further ado, here are Cody, Tori, and Amber's picks (3 each!) as well as Scooter Braun's pick. Each of the 10 winners will receive $10,000 to their local food bank listed below.
The "Fill A Heart" Cover Contest winners are...
+ Tori Kelly's picks
Cameron Seale (featured above), 19 from Brownwood, TX, benefiting the Food Bank of West Central Texas in Abilene, Texas; Peter Collins, 18 from Newark, NY, benefiting the Community Food Bank of New Jersey; and, Dimitri McDowell, 20 from Jamaica Queens, NY, benefiting City Harvest.
+ Cody Simpson's picks
Mackenna Beckman, 18 from Plainfield, IL, benefiting the Peoria Area Food Bank; Natalie Bermudez (featured above), 19 from Vineland, NJ, benefiting the Community Food Bank of South Jersey; and, Marienne Ignacio, 17 from Orland Park, IL, benefiting the Greater Chicago Food Depository.
+ Amber Riley's picks
Alexi Blue (featured above), 15 from Los Angeles, CA, benefitting the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank; Francesca Duncan, 19 from Orange County, NY, benefiting the Food Bank for New York City; and, Naomi Caridad, 16 from Sterling Heights, MI, benefitting Forgotten Harvest.
+ Scooter Braun's pick
Paige Aleah, 15 from Tribes Hill, NY, benefiting the Regional Foodbank of Northeastern New York.
Learn more about how you can take part in the fight against hunger by taking action below!