Lt. Governor Quinn joins with Illinois schoolchildren to promote UNICEF this Halloween

Link: http://www.standingupforillinois.org/feature.php?id=1795

CHICAGO - October 20, 2008.  Lt. Governor Pat Quinn joined with trick-or-treaters to remind Illinois children that if they would like to help others, a little orange box can do the trick. 

"We want to encourage every trick-or-treater in Illinois to participate in the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign," Quinn said.  "Children in the Land of Lincoln can help to save the lives of less fortunate children around the world by simply carrying a UNICEF collection box."

Treat-or-Treaters can order a UNICEF collection box by logging on to www.unicefusa.org/trickortreat.

More than half a century ago, a group of children in Philadelphia set out on Halloween night with decorated milk cartons to collect money for those left vulnerable after World War II.  The $17 that those pioneering Philadelphia trick-or-treaters earned that fateful Halloween night of 1950 was only the beginning.

Last year alone, kids, schools and communities raised more than $4.8 million, and Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF has raised more than $140 million to date.  A little change can help change a lot - 80 cents can immunize one child against measles and 50 cents can immunize one child against polio for life.

The money raised by trick-or-treaters helps to provide clean water, health care, food and education to children in more than 150 countries.  Kids can easily carry the boxes on Halloween night as they go door-to-door, collect at their church services on the Sunday before Halloween, or get creative and come up with their own fundraising event.

Quinn was joined by 3^rd graders from James B. McPherson Elementary School and Jessica Dolan, Major Gifts Officer with UNICEF.

For more than 60 years, UNICEF has been the world's leading international children's organization.  UNICEF provides lifesaving nutrition, clean water, education, protection and emergency response, saving more young lives than any other humanitarian organization in the world.  While millions of children die each year of preventable causes like dehydration, upper respiratory infections and measles, UNICEF, with the support of partnering organizations and donors alike, has the global experience, resources and research to give children the best hope of survival.

To order a UNICEF collection box, please visit www.unicefusa.org/trickortreat.  To learn more about Lt. Governor Quinn's initiatives, please visit StandingUpForIllinois.org.