520 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 280
Houston, TX 77027
713.963.9390
713.963.8527 (fax)

STAFF | EVENTS | EMERGENCIES | FIELD VISITS |
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES | BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Staff

Sonya L. Renner, Regional Director
Karen Turney, Regional Development Officer
Daley Webster, Regional Development Coordinator

The Southwest Chapter is grateful for the volunteer leadership of our Board of Directors.

Upcoming Events

Surviving Disaster: Faces of Triumph
Saving Children: A Speaker Series

We are pleased to announce that we will host Anupama Rao Singh, UNICEF Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific for a special luncheon focusing on an inside perspective on UNICEF as a lifeline for children in crisis.

When: Thursday, September 22, 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm
Where: Belo Mansion, 2101 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX
Tickets: Buy on-line or contact us at 713.963.9390 x26 or by email: texas@unicefusa.org

Recent Events

UNICEF Speaker Series: Children in the Shadows

© Kim Coffman

Susan Bissell, UNICEF’s Chief of Child Protection, spoke passionately to over 200 guests at the May Luncheon, co-chaired by SW Region Board members Eileen Lawal (left) and Susan Boggio.

The inaugural Speaker Series luncheon was held on May 17, 2011.  The event featured Susan Bissell, Chief of Child Protection, who provided guests with a firsthand look at the atrocities of child trafficking.  Dr. Bissell is one of the foremost leaders in preventing child slavery.  Guests also watched a preview of Not My Life, which chronicles the practice of child slavery. The film, which will be released later this year, is directed by Robert Billheimer and based in part on Dr. Bissell’s work. The event also included a panel with Dr. Bissell and local experts Kristen Rehler, FBI Special Agent, and Steven Goff, Project Director with Houston Rescue and Restore.

Transforming Education in Togo

© U.S. Fund for UNICEF/Karen Turney

Children at a pre-primary school in Bouladé Village, Togo

With a lead gift from an anonymous donor, UNICEF Togo is implementing a comprehensive plan designed to reach Togo’s most underserved children with access to quality education.  Because of a lack of pre-primary education in Togo and the value it adds to a child’s future, UNICEF will construct, equip, and nurture 35 child-friendly preschools over the next five years.  Early childhood education is one of the best ways to prepare children, parents and communities to play their respective roles to ensure greater access, retention and success in children’s future education.  It also has additional benefits to the household including promotion of girls education by releasing older girls form the responsibilities of taking care of younger siblings at home during school hours and by giving mothers time for income generating activities.
 
This lead donor has made a generous contribution to help fund more than half of the full project’s cost of $1.1 million and challenged the U.S. Fund for UNICEF donor family to help fund the balance.  If you are interested in learning more about or participating in this transformational initiative please contact Karen Turney at kturney@unicefusa.org.

Field Visits

Panama Field Visit

© U.S. Fund for UNICEF/Turney/2010

Teenagers on the U.S. Fund for UNICEF field visit to Panama pose with preschoolers from Chiriqui.

In March 2010, Southwest Regional Advisory Board Member Louise Ng and her daughter, Eva, had the opportunity to visit UNICEF's operations in Panama. The parent-teen visit was "inspiring" and "impossible to forget" to quote Eva, 14.

During her time in Panama, Eva visited both rural and metropolitan programs to alleviate poverty, provide education, and prevent child labor. In addition to becoming more aware of the vast privileges we have in the United States, Eva and her companions learned that iguana can provide a nutritious meal for young children!  UNICEF donors, three other teenagers, and staff accompanied her in this fascinating look into life in the third world.

Volunteer Opportunities

UNICEF Tap Project

West University Elementary raised $6K for the UNICEF Tap Project.

SW Region Advisory Council member Laura Torgerson helped her daughter Alexandra’s class raise funds for UNICEF’s TAP Project.  53 jugs were put into classrooms at West University Elementary School for a week. The students collected more than $2,000 in coins and $4,000+ in bills and checks.  So, the grand total raised for UNICEF was $6,167! In addition to the Tap Project, 25% of the collection was donated to Japan.  Marathon Oil agreed to match donations to UNICEF Japan. 

Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF

© Ann Holmes

Students at St. John’s celebrating Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF

The John Cooper School is an independent, non-sectarian, co-educational, college preparatory day school located in The Woodlands, Texas, a planned community of 80,000 plus located approximately 35 miles north of Houston.  The School’s mission is to provide a challenging education to a diverse group of select students, enabling them to become creative thinkers, responsible citizens and leaders, and lifetime learners. 

For nine years The John Cooper School has been participating in Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF.  Recently, the school has been awarded both Ambassador and Emissary school status for their contributions.  This year (2010) an alumni parent volunteered to match the funds collected by the school, up to $5,000. 

Lower School students each used a TOT box to collect independently with family and friends.  In the Middle School the advisories had a challenge competition between themselves to raise money.  As well, many students went trick-or-treating on their own with their TOT boxes to bolster their advisory’s funds.  In the Upper School, the four grade levels competed through their English classes, with the winning class receiving a dress down day.  All the funds are coordinated and submitted through the Upper School. 

How you can help

If you would like to volunteer to help raise money through Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF or other youth activities, please call 1.800.4UNICEF or register online as a volunteer.

If you are interested in volunteering for local events, office or clerical work, or applying for internships, please contact Nathalie Herpin, Regional Development Coordinator at 713.963.9390 or download the volunteer application and fax to 713.963.8527.

Board of Directors