Danny Kaye Always Went the Extra Mile

My father, Danny Kaye, whose 100th birthday we are celebrating today, was appointed the first UNICEF ambassador to the world’s children in 1954. Though my father achieved legendary success in Hollywood, on Broadway, television and the concert stage, he often said working with UNICEF was his most rewarding role. His belief in helping children was rooted in his conviction that children were the world’s most valuable natural resource. “If children are healthy and have care and education,” he said, “surely they will be more effective adults and maybe, just maybe, make the world a better place.” His work with UNICEF covered the globe, from Africa to India. For him, there was no such thing as a language barrier. His language was love and laughter. He engaged with children instinctively. “Children are the same the world over,” he said. “They may have a different culture, but an ache or a laugh is universal.” My father always went the extra mile. Perhaps you will be inspired by this short clip to go that extra mile, too. You can make a lasting impact on the world’s children by joining the Danny Kaye Society. The Danny Kaye Society is a group of dedicated individuals who have made a commitment to the world's most vulnerable children through their estate plans. For further information, please visit our Danny Kaye Society page.