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Treats for UNICEF

Children Give Back While Collecting Candy

Marking its’ 57th year, the annual Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign sponsored by the United Nation’s Children Fund, is maintaining old traditions and receiving a new treat from a musical legend.

The United Nation’s Children’s Fund was created in 1946 and works with more than 150 countries to help improve conditions affecting kids, such as education, nutrition and protection. To further those goals, the organization established Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF in 1950.

“When I participated as a kid it made me feel great to know that I was getting tons of candy, but was able to help other kids at the same time,” said Makina Table, a sophomore African-American Studies major at Howard University. “I think it’s a selfless act that motivates children to care about others.”

Known around the world as the Original Kids Helping Kids fundraising campaign, the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF initiative encourages children to collect money along with Halloween candy for less fortunate children and has raised $136 million since its inception.

This year, the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF is presenting the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF match challenge. The former lead guitarist for the Beatles agreed to match dollar-for-dollar all of the money raised by schools and grants up to $500,000. The money will go to UNICEF’s Schools for Africa program, which is dedicated to renovating and building schools across the continent.

“We are delighted and honored that the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF continues their commitment to the world’s children by so generously participating in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF,” Caryl M. Stern, president and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, said in a statement.

“UNICEF’s Schools for Africa program aims to accelerate access to quality basic education for children in Africa,” Stern said. “With this matching grant, we will move one step closer to making this a reality.”

Participating children and their families, schools and communities ordered UNICEF kits, which include orange collection boxes, a DVD on UNICEF’s humanitarian efforts, reward stickers and decorations

“Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is a great campaign that is exciting for kids,” Table said. “It’s something that I definitely encourage people to participate in because it’s a fun way to give back.”