Recently, we at the U.S. Fund were visited by colleagues who are from a region that’s perhaps less commonly associated with UNICEF: Central and Eastern Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CEE/CIS). I was excited to learn what UNICEF does in the region.
The CEE/CIS is one of the newer—and lesser known—regions where UNICEF does its work. Comprised of 22 countries, this area of the world is incredibly diverse, with varying levels of development. But these days, life for children in thisregion is difficult.

Mosquito-borne illnesses are a life-and-death matter, and since World Malaria Day is right around the corner on April 25, it’s a good time to stop and take a look at the status of the fight against this ancient and often deadly disease.
On the surface, remarkable progress has been made. Over the last decade, the malaria mortality rate has decreased by over one-quarter globally, and by a full third in Africa. Some countries in particular have made spectacular gains in malaria control, and an effective malaria vaccine may finally be on the horizon. On closer inspection, however, the situation is less inspiring.

This week is the first ever World Immunization Week—an international event created to raise awareness about the importance of immunization. Besides the protection that immunization gives against childhood and maternal illnesses, it is also important to vaccinate during an emergency: like a war, a natural disaster, or a refugee crisis.
UNICEF is the world’s largest buyer of vaccines for the world’s poorest countries. In 2010, UNICEF supplied 2.5 billion doses of vaccines to 99 countries, and reached 58% of the world’s children. But still, an estimated 1.7 million children died from vaccine-preventable diseases in 2008 before reaching their fifth birthday.

Sharon Leite, Pier 1 Imports’ Executive Vice President of Stores, presented Caryl Stern, President and CEO of the U. S. Fund for UNICEF, with a check for $1,607,976. The donation reflects the amount that Pier 1 Imports raised during the 2011 holiday season from the sale of UNICEF greeting cards in their stores across the United States. Understanding how much even $1 can do to help a child, I know that Pier 1’s efforts will make a huge impact on saving and improving children’s lives around the world.

At the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, we believe that students can play a vital role in helping the world’s children survive and thrive. That’s why we are so impressed with a group in West Virginia called Proud Students Against Landmines and Cluster Bombs (PSALM).

Recently a team of U.S. Fund for UNICEF and Kiwanis Club members and I attended the annual “Bread and Soup” luncheon hosted by the Kiwanis Club of Fordham, Bronx.

The “Bread and Soup Luncheon” is hosted by the club at Fordham University every year during Lent. Each year the Kiwanis members invite a non-profit organization to speak about its efforts to help alleviate poverty. This year the focus was on The Eliminate Project, a joint effort by Kiwanis and UNICEF, and the work to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus.