posted October 13, 2009.
For the past two years, students at the University of Oklahoma, supported by the International Programs Center and the Norman community, have worked hard to promote the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) by participating in the annual Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign. This drive is a student driven campaign that takes place during October and raises money to provide healthcare, education and opportunity for millions of children around the world. The campaign started in 1950 when school children raised a mere $17 trick-or-treating for children impacted by the devastation of World War II. Since then, the campaign has donated over $140 million. According to the UNICEF website, “80 percent of the world's children are now being immunized against 6 of the top killer diseases” and “UNICEF is the global leader in vaccine supply—in 2008 alone, they procured 2.6 billion doses of vaccines.”
Every year, little orange boxes appear in schools around the United States, collecting pocket change and turning it into thousands of dollars for kids worldwide. Last year, Volunteers distributed 1,500 orange trick-or-treat boxes around campus and to local businesses in October. Events to benefit UNICEF were held throughout the month. The International Activities Committee helped to organize numerous student organizations including International Affairs Society and PANAM. Numerous sororities participated in the campaign and during Family Weekend a silent auction was held at the Fred Jones Museum for Night at the Arts.
This year, we hope to make the campaign more memorable than ever. The campaign is easy; simply place UNICEF boxes at school, the workplace and events, and encourage children to take a box with them when they trick-or-treat on Halloween night. “The purpose is not to have people write hundred dollar checks (though they too are welcome) but rather to show that pocket change means a whole lot more to millions of children around the world”, said Marissa Alberty (IAS Senior). This campaign is a way for the community to get behind a cause that literally changes lives through extra pocket change; 6 cents provides water for one thirsty kid, $1 immunizes a child against polio for life, and $200 immunizes 550 kids against measles.
Students are working to make the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign in 2009 as impactful as possible. If you are interested, please contact Megan Powers (megan.m.powers-1@ou.edu) or Marissa Alberty (marissa.alberty@ou.edu) at the University of Oklahoma’s International Programs Center. They will be more than happy to help you get started and provide you with orange UNICEF boxes and flyers. Then, simply return the boxes to OU’s IPC office by November 13th and we will count the money and send it off to UNICEF.
“This is a great example of the entire OU family coming together in this season of giving to help a few more children around the world gain access to needed basics like food, medicine and shelter,” said Zach Messitte, vice provost for International Programs and executive director of the International Programs Center. We look forward to working with you in making this year’s Trick or Treat for UNICEF campaign more memorable than ever!
For further information, please contact Megan Powers (megan.m.powers-1@ou.edu) or Marissa Alberty (marissa.alberty@ou.edu), 405 325-1396.