Sheryl Crow, the American singer-songwriter, has become the latest star to sit in a photo shoot with her new baby in exchange for a large donation to charity. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt sold photos of their newborn last summer raising millions of dollars (WS-i). Crow, with her newly adopted infant, funneled a donation to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) after being inspired by its ambassador, actress Drew Barrymore, discussing child hunger on CNN.

"I was so struck by this story that our relationship with the WFP was born," the singer wrote on her blog. She described the moment she learned about "an amazing organization called the World Food Programme" after hearing actress/producer Barrymore on television talk about her new role as a WFP Ambassador against Hunger. She was holding her son at the time and made the donation in the infant's name.

"Wyatt is now a humanitarian!" said Ms. Crow, whose hits include "All I Wanna Do," "Soak Up the Sun" and "If It Makes You Happy."

In an exclusive interview published in this week's OK! Magazine, the 45-year-old singer praises the agency and its ambassador. "It is absolutely amazing, the number of kids that they feed. They have an unbelievable spokesperson in Drew."

During her CNN interview, Ms. Barrymore, appointed as ambassador against Hunger earlier this month, gives a moving account of her recent visit to WFP-supported school feeding projects in Kenya.

"In a nutshell, this United Nations non-profit organization feeds millions of starving children at schools in third world countries as an incentive for them to attend school, which in turn might better their futures," writes Ms. Crow. "They do so much more but I was so struck by this story."

By providing nutritious meals to over 20 million school children in 71 countries, WFP's school feeding programme ensures a child's healthy development and education and gives hope for the future.

Ms. Crow's blog encourages readers to visit the WFP Web site to make an online donation. For just $21, the agency said, it can feed a child in school for a year.

Photo: CC Wikimedia Commons