(ARA) For most of us, Halloween means costumes, candy and parties. But, for a special group of children across the country, it means saving the lives of children around the world. These exceptional children are those who choose to participate in “Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF.”
For 53 years, children in the United States have shown their commitment to their global peers by carrying the little orange box on Halloween and collecting funds for UNICEF — a global organization whose goal is to bring health, education, equality and protection to every child in the world.
Since its inception in 1950, “Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF” has raised $119 million to help support UNICEF programs around the world. That figure is all the more impressive considering that a meager amount of money goes a long way. How can one small box full of change dramatically improve the lives of so many children in need?
With only one dollar, UNICEF can:
* Immunize a child against measles, a deadly disease that claims more children”s lives each year than wars, famines and natural disasters combined.
* Immunize a child from polio, a disease on the verge of eradication thanks in part to the children who have made the commitment to “Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF” over the past five decades.
* Provide 98 notebooks for students who want to go to school.
Most Americans take these ordinary things for granted, but the children who participate in “Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF” do not. They recognize that they can be part of a special revolution — one that ends with every child in the world living an ordinary life.
Getting started is simple. The orange collection boxes are available at Pier 1 Imports, IKEA, Sears Portrait Studio locations and local supermarkets across the country. Computer savvy kids can simply log on to unicefusa.org and download a copy of the box from the comfort of their own home.
When collections are complete and the collection boxes are filled, it may be a relief for parents to know they no longer are left to the time consuming task of coin wrapping. The supermarket stalwart Coinstar machines are available to accept “Trick-or-Treat” donations 365 days a year. The automated coin counting machines are much more child-friendly and streamline the traditional process of wrapping, depositing the coins in the bank and writing a check.
“It”s important to not only educate, but engage children in helping to improve the lives of their peers around the world and our partners are primary to those goals, says Charles Lyons, president of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. “Trick-or-Treat, has traditionally been a program geared toward children. Their compassion and accomplishments over the years have been no less than amazing.”
For more information about this year”s campaign, please visit www.unicefusa.org/trickortreat or call (800) 252-KIDS.
Courtesy of ARA Content
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