Apr02
“The late James P. Grant, a little-known American aid worker who headed UNICEF from 1980 to 1995 and launched the child survival revolution with vaccinations and diarrhea treatments, probably saved more lives than were destroyed by Hitler, Mao and Stalin combined” — Nicholas D. Kristof, March 6, 2008
This year marks the 15th anniversary of the passing of James P. Grant, the former Executive Director of UNICEF and global children’s champion. As a Congressional aide, I had the opportunity to see Jim Grant in action as he pressed Senators and Representatives to save children’s lives and to make children a priority of U.S. foreign policy. I later had the privilege to assist him in his advocacy work when I joined the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.
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| © UNICEF/NYHQ1994-0093/Giacomo Pirozzi |
| A child at a community center in Cote d’Ivoire, shares a book with UNICEF Executive Director Jim Grant. |
The spirit of Jim Grant was very much alive when his friends and former colleagues gathered at the Elliott School of International Affairs at The George Washington University to hear from distinguished experts at The James P. Grant Lecture: “An Unfinished Agenda for Children.”
Mar17
Although Washington seems preoccupied with the health care debate, the annual appropriations process also is underway. The Budget Committees soon will set the guidelines for overall Federal spending and then the Appropriations Committees will determine their allocations for international foreign assistance. Later in the Spring, the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs will craft the funding bills that include the U.S. Government’s annual contribution to UNICEF.
For the current Fiscal Year 2010, the Congress provided the highest contribution the United States ever has given to UNICEF: $132.25 million. For Fiscal Year 2011 (which begins on October 1st), we want to boost that funding to $140 million. Increases in the “core funding” UNICEF gets from the United States Government help to save more children’s lives and get us closer to “Zero!”
But that will only happen if concerned citizens across the country contact the decision-makers. It only takes a minute or two to send e-mail messages to your two U.S. Senators and to your U.S. Representative.
Please join in this effort, and please encourage everyone you know to do the same!
It’s an easy way to act on your dedication to saving more vulnerable children and to improving the quality of their lives.
Mar11
Martin Rendon is the Vice President or Public Policy and Advocacy for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF
Yesterday I joined other Washington-based United Nations and nongovernmental organization representatives at the White House to hear President Barack Obama and President Rene Preval of Haiti speak about the cooperation between our two nations in response to the earthquake in Haiti. The two leaders also renewed their commitment to address the challenges that remain.
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Jan05
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Dec01
On November 24, Abe Pollin passed away at the age of 85 in Washington, D.C. Mr. Pollin perhaps was best known locally and across the country for being the owner of the Washington Wizards NBA Team and for his development work, including the construction of the Verizon Center in downtown Washington.
Nov03
Is there an issue that transcends partisan divisions on Capitol Hill? We who “Believe in Zero” think there is: saving children and mothers from dying from preventable causes.
Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Senator Bob Corker (R-TN), and Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) have united to introduce S. 1966, the Global Child Survival Act of 2009. The bill directs the U.S. Government to develop a comprehensive, integrated strategy to reduce infant and child mortality rates and authorizes funding to reach more children and mothers who are at risk.
Jul14
We who Believe in Zero want both leadership and funding from the U.S. Government to prevent children from dying from preventable causes. As Zero advocates, we are working with our Senators and Representatives to pass legislation to advance child survival and maternal health.
May16
President Barack Obama has announced that his Administration is crafting a comprehensive Global Health Initiative. He is seeking an integrated approach to global health that will include, in his words, efforts “to combat diseases that claim the lives of 26,000 children each day.” He intends to invest in measures to “reduce mortality of mothers and children under five, saving millions of lives.”
Apr22
While Congress is focused now on working with the Administration to address our country’s economic challenges, Congress also must craft appropriations for government programs for Fiscal Year 2010.
The House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs held a hearing on funding priorities for international assistance. Cynthia McCaffrey, the U.S. Fund for UNICEF’s Senior Vice President for Program and Strategic Partnerships, appeared before the Subcommittee to request increased appropriations for UNICEF’s work to save children’s lives.
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Feb24
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