NYC Wine & Food Festival founder and director Lee Schrager is pleased to announce that participating chefs of this year’s Festival have been invited to join a special “Chefs Lose For Good” initiative with Weight Watchers. This is part of Weight Watchers second annual national Lose For Good(TM) campaign through which Weight Watchers aims to donate up to $1 million to go toward ending childhood hunger.

“Chefs Lose For Good is a perfect example of how participating Festival talent is taking their commitment to the Festival’s beneficiaries to the next level,” says Schrager. “We are grateful for their dedication and participation in this initiative, and thank Weight Watchers for providing us with an additional opportunity to work with Share Our Strength(R) to end childhood hunger in America.”

Festival chefs who have confirmed their participation in the “Chefs Lose For Good” initiative include among others: Michael Lomonaco (Porter House New York), Philippe Massoud (ilili), Anita Lo (Annisa), Elizabeth Karmel (Hill Country), Jacques Torres (Jacques Torres Chocolate), and the Festival’s own Lee Schrager. Beginning the first week in September and ending on October 8th, 2009, the start of the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival, these chefs have committed to dropping the pounds to help Weight Watchers inspire people to get healthy and give back to their communities. The chef’s weight-loss will help Weight Watchers support hunger relief organizations like Share Our Strength(R).

The national Lose For Good(TM) campaign from Weight Watchers recently kicked off its second year. As Members and online subscribers lose weight from August 30th to October 17th, 2009, Weight Watchers will donate up to $1 million to two hunger fighting organizations — Share Our Strength and Action Against Hunger. Members can also participate in local food drives at Weight Watchers meeting locations. Jenny McCarthy, a passionate activist and actress, has also joined the campaign to generate awareness about this important cause.

As a campaign ambassador, McCarthy will participate in media appearances and appear in a public service announcement encouraging Americans to get healthier while also helping to end hunger. Last year’s campaign participants donated 1.5 million pounds of food and lost 4 millions pounds to help fight childhood hunger. More information on the campaign can be found at www.weightwatchers.com/loseforgood.

The 2009 Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival takes place October 8-11th, 2009! Ticket information and the full line-up of new and returning events can be found at www.nycwineandfoodfestival.com, or by calling 866.969.2933. For more Festival updates follow founder and director Lee Schrager on Twitter, www.twitter.com/Lee_Schrager.

For more information on Weight Watchers Lose For Good campaign, click here…

Photo credits: Torres/Ben Muessig; Schrager/Miami Art Zine; Lomonaco/Reuters; Moussad/NYTimes; Lo/Jaimie Trueblood