63rd Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF Campaign Kicks Off with School Challenge

NEW YORK, May 20, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. fund for UNICEF is launching its first-ever nationwide "Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF School Challenge" for teachers of grades K-6. The challenge is part of an effort to help educators inspire students to become global citizens. Winners will get the opportunity to travel abroad to see UNICEF's program work up close.

"Teachers play an essential role in supporting UNICEF each year through the Trick-or-Treat campaign. We want to recognize their tremendous efforts by offering them the opportunity to see our programs first-hand and understand the impact their support has on children's lives around the world," said Caryl Stern, President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.

Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF—the original Kids Helping Kids® campaign—is one of the longest-running youth volunteer initiatives in America. The campaign is an easy way for children to learn about their peers in other countries. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF has developed a series of lesson plans to aid teachers in promoting global citizenship among students. This year's theme is centered on malnutrition and hunger, the cause of more than a third of all child deaths in developing countries. To sign up or to learn more visit www.trickortreatforunicef.org.

From August through October 2013, teachers are asked to document how students are helping kids across the globe through the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign and then submit their entries online beginning Nov. 1, 2013 to Jan. 31, 2014. Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of judges who will announce the winners in spring 2014. Five Grand-Prize Winners will be selected to travel on a UNICEF field visit to a location that will be announced later this year. They will also be awarded $1,000 cash grants for their classroom. In addition, 10 secondary winners will also each receive the cash grant award. Fifty Merit Winners will receive a Cricut® Expression Teacher's Bundle for their classroom.

In its 63 year history the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign has raised more than $170 million. The campaign owes its success not only to the children, parents and educators who have participated, but also to supporters such as Key Club International and interactive multichannel retailer, HSN, Inc. – via their lifestyle brands HSN, Grandinroad and Chasing Fireflies – for their ongoing commitment to the campaign. This year, UNICEF Ambassador Vern Yip will serve as a spokesperson for the 2013 Trick or Treat for UNICEF campaign through the partnership with HSN.

HSN, Inc., through its corporate giving platform, is launching an online retail store that will sell Halloween-themed items on HSN.com, GrandinRoad.com and Chasing-Fireflies.com to support UNICEF programs. As proud sponsor of the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign, HSN Inc. will donate 10 percent of the purchase price for each item sold—including a specially-designed item by renowned interior designer Vern Yip at HSN.com—from Sept. 1 to Oct. 31. Additionally, customers may add a donation to any purchase made online or by phone.

"We are thankful for HSNi's commitment to UNICEF's mission and for their support of this year's campaign. HSN's collaboration with one of our most dedicated supporters, Vern Yip, is an exciting new element that showcases his creativity and ongoing contributions to our organization," said Stern.

Items sold in the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF store range in price from $7.95 to $300. Products include an "I Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF" tote bag, Deborah Lippmann's "I Put A Spell On You" Mini Nail Lacquer Set, a collection of Halloween-themed jewelry by designer Heidi Daus, an outdoor flameless candle set and more. Visit www.hsn.com/unicef to learn more.

Now in its 19^th year, Key Club International continues its support for Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF. To date, Key Club International has raised more than $6 million for UNICEF. All Kiwanis-family raised funds through Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF will support The Eliminate Project, which seeks to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus. Key Club International, a student-led service leadership program of Kiwanis International, is the oldest and largest service program for high school students.

About UNICEF
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries and territories to save and improve children's lives, providing health care and immunizations, clean water and sanitation, 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. Together, we are working toward the day when ZERO children die from preventable causes and every child has a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, please visit unicefusa.org.

To tweet this press release, copy and paste http://uncf.us/2013ToTpr and use the hashtag #TOT4UNICEF

SOURCE U.S. Fund for UNICEF