Responding to the critical needs of vulnerable Haitian children, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC) and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF have announced their first major partnership aimed at providing secure spaces and activities for the devastated island’s youngsters. JDC will support UNICEF’s Child Friendly Spaces program which builds safe and protective environments throughout Haiti for children who have lost homes, families, and communities in the earthquake.

When you make a purchase on eBay this week using PayPal, you will have the opportunity to donate $1 (or more) to UNICEF. Did you know $1 can provide 40 days of clean drinking water to a child in need? Also, you can save us as your favorite nonprofit and you’ll be able to donate in checkout anytime you shop on eBay! Every time you make a donation in checkout this holiday season, you’ll be entered to win a $1000 gift certificate from eBay.

Port-au-Prince was spared the worst of the storm, but even moderate flooding is a disaster here, as it increases the risk of the transmission of waterborne diseases such as cholera, which has already claimed the lives of more than 520 Haitians and hospitalized over 7,400.

As part of the celebration, Western Union announced an initial total of $100,000 in grants to benefit the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and 4 other charities. Western Union and John Legend also unveiled www.50daysofgiving.com – an online voting site to encourage consumers to take an active role in supporting one of 5 charities this holiday season. The organization with the most online votes on December 25, will receive an additional $150,000 grant from Western Union

Halloween is over, but the great work done in the name of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF lives on! The TASIS Dorado school in Dorado, Puerto Rico held a video contest to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the campaign and we’re pleased to show you the winning entry:

I initially became involved with UNICEF through the U.S. Fund for UNICEF’s Women’s Luncheon Series in Boston and have since become a member of its steering committee. It’s a wonderful program that really connects me with world issues I care about and with the incredible work UNICEF is doing.

Did you know that when you buy a cute and cuddly soft toy at IKEA stores from now until December 24, you are helping to give a child a brighter future? For every soft toy sold during the holidays IKEA will make a donation of 1 euro (approximately $1.39) to help support UNICEF and Save the Children’s education projects around the world, including UNICEF’s innovative “Schools for Africa” initiative.

Google and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF celebrated Halloween together this year. As part of their annual “Googleween” party for employees and their families, Google invited Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF to their Mountain View, CA and Chicago, IL campuses. I was thrilled to don my own costume and provide a fun and accessible way for the Google family to help save children’s lives.

It’s Wednesday, and there is a sense of tremendous apprehension here in Port-au-Prince. Tropical Storm Tomas is making his way towards Haiti. He still hasn’t fully revealed his final destination or how much strength he will amass. He’s leaving us guessing.

NBA Cares is the league’s global social responsibility program that builds on the league’s long tradition of good works, and now, NBA Cares is turning five!

The initiative launched in October 2005; to date, the league and its teams and players have donated more than $145 million to charity, completed more than 1.4 million hours of community service, and created more than 525 places where children and families can live, learn and play!