A child’s fifth birthday is a joyful moment for most parents, a milestone marking the passage out of early childhood into the world of pre-K and grade school and upward and onward. Of course, in much of the world, the fifth birthday marks a different kind of milestone — one sometimes greeted with an entirely different sentiment: “my child survived.” That’s because in so many places, for so many beautiful children, just reaching age five alive is a battle, a battle that many don’t win — 21,000 every day, more than 7 million every year. Raising awareness about these children is a key to reaching the day when zero children die from preventable causes. That’s why we’ve partnered with USAID for a new social media campaign: “Every Child Deserves a 5th Birthday.” The idea: post a photo of yourself or your kids at age five. Share it. Friends can do the same and find out about the millions of children who never get a chance to celebrate being five.

The auditorium of the high school in the heart of Quito, Ecuador, was sparse. Beyond a regal painting of Simon Bolivar displayed prominently on stage and a few posters, the room was unadorned, belying the incredible scene we were about to witness. We were there on a visit to learn more about UNICEF-supported programs in Ecuador. The eight of us sat in a row at the front of the room, facing dozens of students—mostly 18 years and older—who had previously dropped out of school and were now returning to finish their education. They were participating in a UNICEF-supported Fast Track Initiative, where they were able to complete three years of school in only one rigorous year, helping them catch up to their peers.

The U.S. Fund for UNICEF is proud to announce the winners of the Campus Challenge for the 2011-2012 academic year. From August 1, 2011 through April 1, 2012, the U.S. Fund for UNICEF partnered with the Association of College Unions International (ACUI) and the George Harrison Fund for UNICEF in a nationwide fundraising challenge on college campuses. We are proud to report that over 280 colleges and universities generated more than $167,000. for UNICEF in the Campus Challenge this year!

We have been working especially hard to raise awareness of the catastrophic crisis unfolding right now in the Sahel region in Africa. It’s hard to fathom, but a million children could die if they are not given the urgent help they need. The response from our supporters has been terrific, and we’re especially fortunate to have UNICEF Ambassador Selena Gomez on our team. The talented actress, recording artist and designer has once again lent her support to UNICEF and spread the word about this crisis. Recently, Selena visited OPSCEN—UNICEF’s Office of Emergency Operations Center—in New York, where she toured UNICEF’s behind-the-scenes operations, and recorded a PSA, urging people to donate to UNICEF’s emergency relief efforts in the Sahel.

In December, I had one of most rewarding experiences of my tenure at the U.S. Fund when a friend invited me to speak to her daughter Riley’s third grade class at Pine Bush Elementary School in Guilderland, NY. Riley’s teacher, Ms. Germano, and her fellow third grade teachers have been raising funds for Trick or Treat for UNICEF for the past 8 years. This year the classes raised $1,700 to support UNICEF’s work.

Earlier this month I had the privilege of attending a screening of the documentary Not My Life, at American University in Washington D.C. The screening was coordinated by the End Trafficking team at UNICEF, our Global Citizenship Fellow Aarti Singh, and American University’s UNICEF Campus Initiative. The End Trafficking project is a U.S. Fund for UNICEF initiative that raises awareness about human trafficking and mobilizes communities to take meaningful action to help protect children.