Angie Harmon Appointed Newest UNICEF Ambassador

Actress lends star power for fight against child trafficking during Human Trafficking Awareness Month

NEW YORK, Jan. 2, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Fund for UNICEF today announced that actress Angie Harmon will be the newest UNICEF Ambassador. Harmon will use her talent and recognition to fundraise, educate and advocate on behalf of the world's most vulnerable children.

In her first role as UNICEF Ambassador, Harmon will appear in Public Service Announcements to raise awareness about the issue of child trafficking, an inhumane and exploitative practice, and urge Americans to help end it. An estimated 5.5 million children are victims of trafficking, an illegal enterprise that generates billions of dollars in yearly profits. Human trafficking cases have been reported in every state in the United States. Part of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF's End Trafficking project, the 15, 30, and 60-second PSAs will air in January during Human Trafficking Awareness Month and appear online at http://bit.ly/HarmonTraffickingPSA.

"After learning the horrifying practice of child trafficking both in the United States and abroad, I knew I had to do something about it. That's what drew me to UNICEF," said Harmon. "I believe that ZERO children should be forced into prostitution or made to work, especially at dangerous jobs. I look forward to working with UNICEF to help reach a day when every child has a safe and healthy childhood."   

To raise awareness about child trafficking and mobilize communities within the United States to take meaningful action to help protect children, the U.S. Fund for UNICEF has launched The End Trafficking project. In partnership with concerned individuals and groups, the initiative aims to bring us all closer to a day when ZERO children are exploited. To learn more, visit: http://www.unicefusa.org/endtrafficking.

"UNICEF Ambassadors have a wide range of backgrounds and accomplishments, but they all share a deep commitment to saving and improving the lives of children across the globe," said Caryl Stern, President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. "We're thrilled to have Angie Harmon join our efforts to help ensure the health, education, equality and protection of every child."

Over the years, UNICEF Ambassadors have played a critical role in raising awareness of children's needs globally. Harmon joins a distinguished roster of beloved celebrities who have embraced UNICEF through the years, dating back to Danny Kaye and Audrey Hepburn, and continuing today with stars such as Laurence Fishburne, Selena Gomez, Tea Leoni, Joel Madden, Alyssa Milano, Marcus Samuelsson, and Sarah Jessica Parker, among others.

In 2011 Angie Harmon lit the UNICEF Snowflake at 57th Street and 5th Avenue in New York City. Designed by Ingo Maurer and dedicated to UNICEF by The Stonbely Family Foundation in 2002, the Snowflake serves as a beacon of hope, peace and compassion to the vulnerable children around the world.

An American fashion model and film and television actress, Harmon currently stars on TNT's Rizzoli & Isles as the title character 'Jane Rizzoli'.  She is best known for her starring role as Assistant District Attorney 'Abbie Carmichael' on NBC's Emmy-Award winning drama Law & Order.  She also appeared as the lead in ABC's Women's Murder Club as homicide detective, 'Lindsay Boxer'. She made her feature film debut in the independent film, Lawn Dogs, in which she appeared opposite Sam Rockwell for director John Duigan.  Other feature film credits include the lead role of 'Abby' in Sony Screen Gems' The Good Mother and a starring role opposite Liam Neeson and Pierce Brosnan in the independent film, Seraphim Falls.     

About UNICEF
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) works in 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, visit www.unicefusa.org.  

SOURCE U.S. Fund for UNICEF