MS NOW’s Lawrence O’Donnell and UNICEF USA make history: The K.I.N.D. Fund Raises record-breaking $6 million and celebrates 15 years of impact for children in Malawi

NEW YORK (April 7, 2026) – UNICEF USA and MS NOW proudly marked 15 years of The K.I.N.D. (Kids in Need of Desks) Fund, an inspiring partnership dedicated to supporting quality education in Malawi — known as the Warm Heart of Africa — by addressing daily barriers that make learning a challenge. In 2025, the initiative achieved record-breaking success, raising $6.3 million including a $1 million single gift. 

“When I started The K.I.N.D. Fund with UNICEF 15 years ago, I could not have imagined how many students’ lives would be changed in Malawi,” shared O’Donnell. “I am thankful for the immense support of our audience, whose generosity has allowed us to deliver hundreds of thousands of desks to students in Malawi and helped thousands of girls complete their high school education. This landmark year truly shows that one small act of kindness can make a world of difference for those students who need it most."

Each Giving Tuesday, UNICEF USA and MS NOW launch The K.I.N.D. Fund on The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell, raising awareness and funds to provide desks and scholarships for students in Malawi. This year’s launch featured Presidential Inaugural Poet, author and UNICEF Ambassador Amanda Gorman, and scholarship alumni and poet laureate Joyce Chisale, who reunited with Lawrence in Malawi earlier this year. Chisale has now completed her studies at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, and is pursuing a career in microbiology and inspiring the future generation of girls.

“The K.I.N.D. Fund opened a door I once thought was closed to girls like me. Because someone believed in my education, I am now preparing to graduate from University and pursue a medical career,” said Chisale. “My journey shows what is possible when a girl is given a chance — not only to remain in school, but to believe in her future even when the road is difficult. Every step of my journey reminds me that little by little, through every rough and rocky path, we press forward — because dreams are never built by turning back.”

The campaign’s record-breaking year comes at a pivotal moment for Malawi’s education system. In 2025, the Government of Malawi announced the nationwide abolition of secondary school fees, a landmark achievement and major leap toward advancing education across the country. UNICEF has worked in Malawi since 1964, advocating for every child’s right to quality education. This commitment reflects UNICEF’s belief that education is a universal right and an essential foundation for children’s future success. As this policy takes effect, funds raised through The K.I.N.D. Fund will be even more critical in reaching the most vulnerable children.

“We are profoundly grateful to every supporter of MS NOW and the K.I.N.D. Fund,” said UNICEF Malawi Representative Dr. Penelope Campbell. “Your generosity is transforming children’s lives in Malawi - especially for girls who are now able to stay in school through scholarships, and for the many learners who can now learn comfortably on a desk. These investments are not small gestures; they make a real and lasting difference in the quality of education and the future of Malawi’s children.”

The K.I.N.D. Fund began in 2010 when O’Donnell visited a school in Malawi and noticed children learning on the floor, as about 62% of students do not have a desk. Soon after, he commissioned locally made desks, which has created countless jobs for Malawians and supported the economy. Two years later, during a visit with UNICEF, Lawrence met girls forced to leave school due to poverty. Recognizing that desks alone could not remove obstacles to education, he expanded the initiative to include scholarships, helping girls stay in school, and reach their full potential.

Since inception, The K.I.N.D. Fund has raised more than $55 million, delivered over 400,000 school desks, reached 1.6 million learners and awarded 38,000 scholarships to schoolgirls in Malawi. For more information, please visit: www.unicefusa.org/KINDFund. 

• A donation of $158 can provide a school desk shared by two to three students, including production, transport and quality assurance. 
• A gift of $265 provides one year of secondary school education for a girl in Malawi, including tuition, boarding, textbooks, uniforms, stationery and sanitary supplies.

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ABOUT UNICEF USA 

UNICEF USA advances the global mission of UNICEF by rallying the American public to support the world’s most vulnerable children. Together, we are working toward a world that upholds the rights of all children and helps every child thrive. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org. 

ABOUT MS NOW

MS NOW is a premier destination for breaking news and best-in-class opinion journalism, reaching diverse audiences across cable, online, social, and audio. MS NOW reaches more than 14 million Americans weekly, commanding one of the most engaged audiences across all of television with the average viewer watching for more than nine hours each week. 

For more information please contact:
Nina Marie Costa, UNICEF USA, 973-519-5253, NMCosta@unicefusa.org