The George Harrison Fund for UNICEF asks "Help us save some lives"
Launches new Campus Challenge in partnership with Association of College Unions International
Donate now to The George Harrison Fund for UNICEF and support UNICEF's lifesaving assistance to children caught in humanitarian emergencies. Or, join the Help Us Save Some Lives Campus Challenge.
Ravi Shankar presented with first ever George Harrison Humanitarian Award
Recognition for efforts in saving the lives of children
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Legendary Indian musician and peace advocate, Ravi Shankar was honored this Saturday, October 10 with the first ever George Harrison Humanitarian Award. The award was presented by the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF following Shankar's concert at Carnegie Hall in New York.
Shankar was honored for his unprecedented efforts in saving the lives of children and his involvement with the Concert for Bangladesh—organized by George Harrison and inspired by Ravi Shankar—the Concert marked the first time rock musicians collaborated for a common humanitarian cause.
Click here to see how Ravi and George worked together to execute this historic event.
NEW YORK (September 9, 2008) — In partnership with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and the Association of College Unions International (ACUI), The George Harrison Fund for UNICEF is now promoting a fundraising challenge on college campuses across America. The Help Us Save Some Lives Campus Challenge runs from September 5, 2008 to February 28, 2009.
The Campus Challenge encourages students to raise awareness and funds to save children around the world. The college campus that raises the most funds postmarked by February 28, 2009 will host a celebrity UNICEF supporter, who will address students on campus. Visit the Campus Challenge online at unicefusa.org/campuschallenge for more information about how to get involved.
A historic concert
With the lyrics "Now I'm asking all of you, help us save some lives," George Harrison turned music in to a political and social force.
August 1, 2008 marked the 37th anniversary of George Harrison's historic Concert for Bangladesh, which pioneered the all-star rock concert benefit model. In 1971, Harrison staged two concerts at New York's Madison Square Garden that brought together a star-studded cast of musicians—Ravi Shankar, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Leon Russell and Billy Preston—to alert the world to the plight of the Bangladeshi people.
In 1971, the pioneering former Beatle, hearing Ravi Shankar's distress, used his fame and the power of music to organize the Concert for Bangladesh. At that time, the country was ravaged by floods, famine and civil war, which left 10 million people — mostly women and children — fleeing their homes.
Harrison set the precedent that music could be used to serve a higher cause. The Concert for Bangladesh was one of the most ambitious humanitarian efforts in rock music history. It produced an extraordinary contribution for UNICEF, exceeding $15 million. Perhaps more importantly, the concert focused global attention on the crisis in Bangladesh and raised the consciousness of other musicians and millions of their young fans to a new awareness of UNICEF and its role in the developing world.
The George Harrison Fund for UNICEF
The George Harrison Fund for UNICEF is a joint venture between the Harrison family and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF that aims to support UNICEF programs providing lifesaving assistance to children caught in humanitarian emergencies.
Every year, UNICEF identifies countries and territories suffering from the results of civil conflict, natural disaster and poverty—countries where children are vulnerable to malnutrition, disease, exploitation and abuse. As with Bangladesh in the 1970s, many of these emergencies are still virtually ignored by the media and critically underfunded.
In the tradition established by George Harrison and Ravi Shankar, The George Harrison Fund for UNICEF continues to support UNICEF programs in Bangladesh while expanding its influence to include other countries in crisis where children are at risk. In December 2007, the fund made a donation of $450,000 to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF for relief and recovery efforts for the victims of Cyclone Sidr in Bangladesh.
