UNICEF’s Next Generation announces Project Ethiopia to fund neonatal health
UNICEF USA
© U.S. Fund for UNICEF
Next Gen Host Committee at the Guatemala photo exhibit to benefit Project Sprinkles. From left: Casey Rotter, Barbara Bush, Jenna Bush Hager, Mia Baxter, David Lieberman, Kipton Cronkite, Robert Thompson, Manish Vora, Danielle Abraham.
NEW YORK (September 1, 2010)—Just one and a half years after its founding, UNICEF's Next Generation, a group for young professionals who are passionate about UNICEF's work, has raised $500,000 to support UNICEF's lifesaving programs around the globe and is launching its third program-specific fundraising goal.
"We've had outstanding success in each of our projects to date," said Casey Rotter, Next Generation Manager. "We've made an impact in Guatemala and Haiti, and now we want to focus on Ethiopia."
Project Ethiopia
© U.S. Fund for UNICEF
Next Gen Steering Committee member, Brooke Worthington, with children at a UNICEF-funded day care in Guatemala.
To achieve Project Ethiopia, Next Gen members pledge to raise $150,000 through personal donations and fundraisers to establish a fully functional neonatal care unit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The group plans to raise the designated amount by December 31, 2010.
"Nearly 400,000 Ethiopian children die every year before reaching their 5th birthday," said Next Generation Chair, Jenna Bush Hager. "Their deaths are preventable, and we believe that with our donations more children will survive and reach their potentials."
Until recently, newborn health has been a neglected area in Ethiopia. UNICEF has been a strong advocate for improving maternal and neonatal health. As a result, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health has made this a priority in the Government's 2010–2015 Health Plan. To implement the plan, financial support is needed to provide critical staffing and equipment for a neonatal care unit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital. The Government of Ethiopia will cover the cost of construction of the neonatal care unit. However, $150,000 is required to equip the center and support training of health care providers. This is the funding that UNICEF's Next Generation has pledged to bring this silent emergency to light.
Latest lifesaving projects
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Lauren Bush, David Lauren and U.S. Fund President and CEO Caryl Stern at the Ralph Lauren Next Gen event to benefit Haiti.
Project Ethiopia follows the success of two other Next Generation initiatives: Project Sprinkles, supporting the use of a revolutionary nutritional supplement to fight malnutrition and stunting, saw designated funds of $175,000 and allowed Next Gen members the opportunity to travel to Guatemala to see their support in programs on the ground. That project was followed by a goal to raise $50,000 for UNICEF's relief and recovery efforts in Haiti, which was reached ahead of schedule on June 30, 2010.
In addition to these fundraising achievements, UNICEF's Next Generation has held several educational events this year. Some contributed to the photo exhibit in May, displaying photos from the Next Generation UNICEF trip to Guatemala. Others have spoken about children around the world at Trick-or-Treat participating schools, or organized a 5K run for UNICEF. Still others hosted private dinner parties in their home, during which they talked about the importance of UNICEF and private and public partnerships.
The Next Generation Steering Committee welcomes 9 new Steering Committee members, and the Next Generation giving circle continues to grow! Next Generation's first ever Halloween event, UNICEF's Masquerade Ball, takes place October 21, 2010. Tickets are on sale now.
