Join us on Thursday, February 28, at 10:00 AM EST, for a Google+ Hangout with Ted Chaiban, the director of Emergency Programs for UNICEF. Ted Chaiban has just come back from Syria, and will report firsthand on the impact the violence there has had on children.

UNICEF and children around the world thank you for your purchase last year of Inspired Gifts! These gifts are actual lifesaving items that you can buy in someone’s honor and that go where they are needed most. They include things like bicycles to help transport vaccines, mosquito nets that protect families against malaria, school supplies, and oral rehydration salts that save children from deadly dehydration.

On February 23, Montblanc launched its global “Signature for Good” initiative in Los Angeles. This marks the fourth global collaboration between Montblanc and UNICEF, which has raised more than $5 million since 2004 through various initiatives to support UNICEF’s education programs for children. In this new collaboration, Montblanc will donate 10% of the retail sales price for each item purchased in the “Signature for Good” collection. It is part of a yearlong charity initiative to support UNICEF’s education programs in the company’s efforts to ensure that children have access to a quality education.

Last September, I eagerly entered the hallways of Cesar Chavez Middle School on Chicago’s southwest side, ready to meet 25 new Citizen Schools students. The students I was about to meet had chosen “UNICEF: Be the Change” as their ten-week Citizen Schools apprenticeship. As a U.S. Fund for UNICEF Global Citizenship Fellow, I had volunteered to be a Citizen Teacher to teach students about UNICEF’s work and empower them to take action for children.

Last weekend I thought of a sentiment that sums up Valentine’s Day perfectly for me: “Love grows with sharing.” As you think about getting the perfect gift for your Valentine, what better way to share your love than to give a UNICEF Inspired Gift. Inspired Gifts are real items like therapeutic milk, books or soccer balls, that go to help children around the world. Once you’ve selected your Inspired Gift, you can choose an eCard or a printable card to announce the gift made in honor of your Valentine and how it will be shared to help kids around the world.

We all have moments in our careers that are turning points, and it can be a challenge to try and describe them. However, if we fail to do so, they may lose their value. So brace yourself—I’m about to share with you some incredible moments that I have experienced as a U.S. Fund for UNICEF Global Citizenship Fellow in Washington D.C. Warning: You may experience a sense of hope and inspiration when reading this.