The Financial Times’ 2010/11 seasonal appeal has raised $1.6 million for Action Against Hunger/ACF International, a charity working to fight child malnutrition and its causes.

The appeal ran from November to the end of January, with coverage of the charity’s work throughout December.

Direct reader donations and an online auction raised $250,330. A further $300,000 came from corporate partners Weight Watchers International and the John and Wendy Neu Family Foundation, and $1.08m from other initiatives, including a gala dinner in New York and a London wine auction.

Raymond Debbane, chairman of ACF’s US board, said: “Because of the generosity of FT readers, Action against Hunger will be able to save even more young lives threatened by malnutrition and help families gain a foothold in some of the poorest and most inaccessible places on earth. To everyone who contributed to the appeal, thank you.”

Lionel Barber, the FT’s editor, added: “We are delighted that the appeal has raised so much. With recession and rising food prices contributing to further hardship for vulnerable people, the ACF cause is urgent and timely. Thank you to readers, to fund-matching donors and to others who have given so generously.”

For more visit http://www.ft.com/indepth/seasonal-appeal