Last week, I had the privilege of visiting one of the most beautiful countries on earth, Rwanda. I was there with delegates from the U.S. Fund for UNICEF’s longstanding partner, Zonta International—a global organization working to advance the status of women worldwide. Zonta has chosen to invest in the futures of women and children in Rwanda by supporting UNICEF’s work to prevent mother to child transmission of HIV and prevent gender-based violence. Together, Zonta International, UNICEF and its many partners are working toward—and are on track to reaching—a generation in Rwanda born free from HIV by 2015.

During this holiday season, we are reminded that here in the United States most of us enjoy shelter, access to vaccinations, clean and sanitary drinking water and food on the table. Not everyone in the world is so lucky. UNICEF works to ensure that these basic amenities are available to the world’s children, but still, 22,000 children die every day from preventable causes. UNICEF and its supporters believe this number should be zero.

For the very first year, US Fund for UNICEF and the UNICEF High School Club program participated in the United Nations Student Conference on Human Rights.

Last week, five Alumni of the UNICEF Campus Initiative program gathered in New York City to organize and plan the future of the Campus Initiative Alumni Association, and to plan and create a two-year plan of action for the Alumni Association.

This past weekend, five Alumni of the UNICEF Campus Initiative program gathered in New York City to organize and plan the future of the Campus Initiative Alumni Association. The newly formed council created a two-year plan of action for the Alumni Association.

As I was standing with my team wearing blue shirts, holding UNICEF signs, cowbells and pom poms, scanning the sea of runners wearing our cyan blue running jerseys, I was awed by the dedication of not only those who were running with Team UNICEF, but the nearly 45,000 other people who also chose to run, either for a charity, or for themselves. I thought about all that goes into becoming a marathoner. Training takes time, commitment, dedication, perseverance, and prioritization.

56 runners have set a goal to finish the 2010 ING New York City Marathon and raise $225,000 for UNICEF’s lifesaving programs. Join us along the route to support Team UNICEF on Sunday, November 7. We will have UNICEF signs, pom-poms and t-shirts for you to show your UNICEF pride.

The U.S. Fund for UNICEF is seeking an energetic group of 5 -10 Campus Initiative Alumni, who have demonstrated support of UNICEF while in school. Members of the council will have the opportunity to work closely with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, campus groups, and other alumni in their network, to start the next chapter of the volunteer experience: the UNICEF Campus Initiative Alumni Association.

This weekend we held a City Coordinator Training for the UNICEF Tap Project Campaign 2011. 25 people gathered from Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Seattle and Washington D.C. Led by the volunteer and community partnerships team, it was a smooth weekend full of great presentations, activities and personalities!

This weekend I traveled to Phoenix Arizona to attend Pinnacle High School Key Club’s “Spooktacular,” a Halloween Carnival to benefit UNICEF. This event, now in its fourth year, is organized by the Key Club and is one of Key Club International’s largest fundraisers, generating thousands of dollars in years past.