Press Release

UNICEF Receives Highest Honor at 2012 Cause Marketing Forum Conference

The Cause Marketing Golden Halo Award, the highest honor for companies and causes that collaborate to produce business and social dividends, was bestowed on UNICEF at the 2012 Cause Marketing Forum conference here today. U.S. Fund for UNICEF President & CEO Caryl Stern accepted the award on behalf of the global organization and delivered a keynote address to 500 executives gathered for this conference. UNICEF is the first organization to be recognized for its international cause marketing partnerships.

CHICAGO (May 31, 2012) — The Cause Marketing Golden Halo Award, the highest honor for companies and causes that collaborate to produce business and social dividends, was bestowed on UNICEF at the 2012 Cause Marketing Forum conference here today.

U.S. Fund for UNICEF President & CEO Caryl Stern accepted the award on behalf of the global organization and delivered a keynote address to 500 executives gathered for this conference on cross-sector collaboration to do well by doing good. UNICEF is the first organization to be recognized for its international cause marketing partnerships.

"We are honored to accept the Cause Marketing Golden Halo Award and are deeply grateful to our corporate partners. Their ongoing support has been critical to UNICEF's efforts to bring about a day when zero children die needlessly or lack access to a basic education," said Caryl Stern, president and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. "In addition to providing funding for UNICEF's lifesaving work, our partnerships help increase awareness of issues affecting children, reach new constituents, and provide the public with new and innovative ways to take action."

UNICEF's corporate partnerships provide essential resources for the organization's work in more than 150 countries to help children survive and thrive. With partners such as IKEA, Gucci, ING, Procter & Gamble, Starwood, and FC Barcelona, UNICEF has led the development of signature global and U.S. initiatives such as the "Change for Good" program with the airline industry and the iconic "Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF" campaign. 

"UNICEF is a pioneer in collaborating to create international programs that benefit its corporate partners and support its vital mission," said David Hessekiel, president of the Cause Marketing Forum. "Its leadership in forging initiatives that engage consumers in many lands made it truly deserving of the Cause Marketing Golden Halo Award for Nonprofits," he said.

In her acceptance speech, Stern shared insights into building impactful partnerships that advance UNICEF's mission and deliver business results for companies and brands around the world.  

"In our experience, private sector partnerships are most effective when our humanitarian aims align with our partners' objectives and core capabilities. Partnering with UNICEF provides companies with an opportunity to engage with their consumers, reach shared goals, and demonstrate their commitment to the survival and development of children around the world," Stern said.

Cause Marketing Forum, Inc., producer of the Cause Marketing Forum conference and Cause Marketing Halo Awards, helps business and nonprofit executives succeed together by providing practical information and inspiration, opportunities to build valuable relationships and recognition for outstanding work.  

A wealth of information on cause marketing and CMF's offerings can be found at www.causemarketingforum.com

About UNICEF

UNICEF has saved more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization in the world. Working in more than 150 countries, UNICEF provides children with health care, clean water, nutrition, education, emergency relief, and more. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy, and education in the United States.

UNICEF is at the forefront of efforts to reduce child mortality worldwide. There has been substantial progress: the annual number of under-five deaths dropped from more than 12 million in 1990 to 7.6 million in 2010. But still, 21,000 children die each day from preventable causes. Our mission is to do whatever it takes to make that number zero by giving children the essentials for a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.

For additional information, please contact:
Susannah Masur, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, 212.880.9146, smasur@unicefusa.org
Kiní Schoop, U.S. Fund for UNICEF, 212.922.2634, kschoop@unicefusa.org