U.S. Fund for UNICEF Names Lisa Benenson SVP for Marketing and Communications

NEW YORK, Sept. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Fund for UNICEF today announced the appointment of Lisa Benenson as Senior Vice President of Marketing and Communications.  Leading a team of 31 people across six divisions, Benenson is responsible for the brand and marketing, digital presence, and communications strategies and initiatives for UNICEF within the United States.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120917/DC74897)

Benenson, who joined the organization in April as Vice President of Marketing and Communications, is directing the roll-out of "Believe in ZERO," a national campaign formally launched today. The campaign, which includes national film, radio and print advertising, is aimed at generating interest in UNICEF's efforts to eliminate preventable child deaths globally, and creating opportunities that allow children to survive and thrive. The new film is available online at www.unicefusa.org.

"We are thrilled to have Lisa heading this important division, and look forward to her leadership as we call on Americans to join us in ensuring the survival and development of all children," said Caryl Stern, President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. "Lisa's breadth of experience in media and communications is an enormous asset to our cause."

Prior to joining UNICEF, Benenson was a consulting editor at Newsweek and The Daily Beast. She was the founding editor of Hallmark Magazine, and also led Working Mother and Working Woman. At Hallmark, she played a key role in shaping business strategies to leverage the Hallmark brand and developed and supervised the magazine's digital and social media operations. At Working Mother, she created the "Take Your Kids to Vote" campaign, a joint initiative with the Council for Excellence in Government.

"It's an honor to serve an organization whose mission is so critical," said Benenson. "At the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, we believe in a world where there are ZERO starving children, ZERO children dying of preventable causes, and ZERO children denied an education. Because of UNICEF's unique global reach and expertise, we are actually on our way to achieving those goals."

Earlier in her journalism career, Benenson worked for Newsday, where she was a reporter and served as the Assistant National Editor, and for The Denver Post, where she held positions including Metro Editor and Sunday Editor.

Benenson has appeared on NBC's Today Show and was a contributor for the Weekend Today Show. She has also appeared on NBC Nightly News, the CBS Nightly News, Oprah, Good Morning America, The Fox Report and other national broadcast programs.

A graduate of the University of Colorado, Benenson is a member of ASME (the American Society of Magazine Editors), and has been active in organizations including CURE (Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy) and HOMECorp, an organization that works to provide affordable housing.

Benenson is married, and the mother of two.

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