U.S. Fund for UNICEF's Annual Meeting to Take Place in Chicago May 4 and 5

Session to include Keynote Address by Anderson Cooper, a Preview of CNN Documentary on Orphans in Haiti, and a Performance by Chicago Blues Guitarist Lurrie Bell

NEW YORK, May 3 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Fund for UNICEF (USF) announced today that its annual meeting will be held in Chicago on Tuesday, May 4 and Wednesday, May 5 at the Union League Club. The two-day event will include a keynote address by CNN Anchor Anderson Cooper, a tribute to the iconic Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF program which is in its 60th year, and a preview of CNN's upcoming documentary about Haitian orphans reported by CNN Anchor and Special Correspondent Soledad O'Brien.

The conference will kick-off with an opening dinner and reception featuring a Spotlight on Haiti, which will include a keynote address from CNN Anchor Anderson Cooper. Additionally, there will be a recognition ceremony for those donors who gave $1 million or more to Haiti including: UPS, CNN, Major League Baseball, 1199 SEIU, Jeffries, "Hope For Haiti Now: A Global Benefit For Earthquake Relief," and the NBA Players Association which will be represented by Haitian-born, Philadelphia 76ers center, Samuel Dalembert. NBA Global Ambassador Dikembe Mutombo will be in attendance as well. The evening will conclude with a performance by Chicago's own celebrated blues guitarist Lurrie Bell.

This is the first time the USF's annual meeting will be held in Chicago. The location was chosen to recognize the Midwest Regional Office for meeting its three-year $6.5 million fundraising goal to shore up its priority program campaign, known as Accelerated Child Survival (ACS).

"This year's meeting will highlight the accomplishments made not only by the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, but its many partners and volunteers, especially as it relates to Haiti," said U.S. Fund for UNICEF President and CEO Caryl Stern. "Although we have much to celebrate, we recognize the monumental task ahead of us. Twenty-four thousand children continue to die each day from preventable causes. We will use the annual meeting as an opportunity to encourage staff, partners, fundraisers and volunteers to continue their commitment to reducing the number of preventable deaths to zero."

Dr. Mark Feinberg, vice president for medical affairs and policy for Merck Vaccines, will headline the second day of the conference with a keynote address at lunch. Additionally, day two will feature three panel discussions: Zero in the Field will include presentations from members of UNICEF staff in the field from countries including Ghana, Ethiopia, and Swaziland. It will be followed by Partnering for Zero, showcasing outstanding corporate partnerships. And lastly, Rescued, a discussion on child protection and orphans in Haiti, with U.S. Fund for UNICEF President and CEO Caryl Stern, UNICEF Head of Child Protection Susan Bissell, and CNN anchor and special correspondent Soledad O'Brien. This panel will preview a portion of Soledad O'Brien's upcoming CNN documentary, "Rescued," a one hour program exploring the plight of 380,000 (pre-earthquake estimate) orphaned children in Haiti. The documentary traces the stories of two children and, in the process, illuminates the grim realities faced by Haitian children pre-earthquake, including abject poverty, forced labor, trafficking and high infant mortality. The impact of the earthquake on children is closely interwoven and the challenges and opportunities for Haiti's children are the focus. "Rescued" will premiere on CNN on May 8, 2010 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

For more information on the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, please visit www.unicefusa.org.  

About UNICEF

UNICEF has saved more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization in the world. Working in over 150 countries, UNICEF provides children with health care, clean water, 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.

UNICEF is at the forefront of efforts to reduce child mortality worldwide. There has been substantial progress -- the annual number of under-five deaths dropped from 13 million in 1990 to 8.8 million in 2008. But still, 24,000 children die each day from preventable causes. Our mission is to do whatever it takes to make that number zero by giving children the essentials for a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.

SOURCE U.S. Fund for UNICEF