WhyHunger celebrated 50 years of combating food insecurity with a special benefit concert at Asbury Park’s Stone Pony on Sunday, raising over $200,000. The organization, established by Harry Chapin and Bill Ayres in 1975, brought together an impressive lineup to mark the milestone, including The Boss himself, Bruce Springsteen.

The evening’s main attraction saw Springsteen joining Stevie Van Zandt & The Disciples of Soul with Marc Ribler for several numbers including “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” and holiday favorites “Merry Christmas Baby” and “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town”. Van Zandt’s band also delivered its own set featuring “Soulfire” and The Jackson 5‘s “Can You Feel It”.

Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Van Zandt, Marc Ribler – “Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out” – 12/14/25

[Video: Spring-Nuts]

Bruce Springsteen & Stevie Van Zandt – “I Don’t Want To Go Home” – 12/14/25

[Video: Spring-Nuts]

Bruce Springsteen & Stevie Van Zandt – “Merry Christmas Baby”, “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” – 12/14/25

[Video: Spring-Nuts]

Additional performances came from Young the Giant members Sameer Gadhia and Eric Cannata, who led a Stevie Wonder medley with Yola, and Gary Tallent, who welcomed Danny Clinch on harmonica for “Blue Suede Shoes”, while The Smithereens‘ Jim Babjak and Dennis Diken contributed classic rock cuts.

Harry Chapin’s legacy took center stage when his brother Steve Chapin and The Original Harry Chapin Band, including Tom and Jen Chapin, performed his iconic song “Cat’s in the Cradle”. Footage from two films honoring Chapin’s activism and musical impact—Harry Chapin: When in Doubt, Do Something and the new documentary Harry Chapin – Cat’s In the Cradle: The Song that Changed Our Lives—was shown between sets.

The event also included an afternoon artist summit addressing hunger solutions. All ticket proceeds benefited WhyHunger’s mission, which has connected 5.3 million people to food resources and invested $10.8 million in community-led solutions globally in the past five years alone.