© U.S. Fund for UNICEF/Stemn

"I have a voice. It‘s one of my gifts. I intend to use it on behalf of the children that UNICEF seeks to aid." 

Laurence Fishburne was appointed U.S. Fund for UNICEF Ambassador in 1996. He is particularly committed to supporting UNICEF's HIV/AIDS awareness and education programs.

Here is the latest on his efforts for the world's children.

In early 2007, Laurence Fishburne is participating in UNICEF UpClose, an awareness-building campaign powered by Yahoo! Answers. The UpClose program is a new forum for discussing the challenges facing the world's most vulnerable children. He asked: "Of the 10.5 million children under 5 who die each year, most of them die from easily preventable causes. Why aren't more people talking about this?"

Laurence serves as chairperson of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF's campaign against HIV/AIDS.

Laurence was the keynote speaker at UNICEF's March 2005 Designs of Hope gala in Chicago. Designs of Hope is an event held every spring in support of programs that provide care and support of orphans and children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS.

After visiting UNICEF-supported programs for children affected by HIV/AIDS in South Africa in June 2004, Laurence narrated a virtual field trip relating his experiences there.

Laurence received the Child Survival Award in 2000, established by UNICEF and The Carter Center, in honor of his significant achievements for child survival, protection and development around the world.

In 2000, Laurence narrated State of the World's Children, one of UNICEF's most important educational videos. State of the World's Children is an annual report which announces the findings of the world's children.

Laurence lobbied House Foreign Operations Subcommittee on Capitol Hill in April 1999 to approve the U.S. Government's annual contribution to UNICEF, funds that are vital to the work UNICEF does around the world.

Traveling to the Ivory Coast and Liberia in May 1997, Laurence visited UNICEF support centers for war refugees and former child soldiers.

Laurence hosted cultural and educational events at the June 1996 United Nations "Day of the African Child," as well as serving as a keynote speaker at the event's reception.