Last year, about $47,000 was raised in Georgia from UNICEF Trick-or-Treat boxes, and $2.7 million nationally.
Here’s one story about how money was raised:
Growing up in southwest Georgia, Audrey Hughes always went trick-or-treating with a jack-o’-lantern for candy and an orange UNICEF cardboard box for spare change.
Her children, now teenagers, kept the tradition going over the years.
But Hughes’ efforts for UNICEF reach beyond her family and have been recognized by the organization, which helps children in other countries.
Last year, Hughes, a science teacher at Hilsman Middle School in Athens, developed an innovative way to raise money for UNICEF not only at Halloween — but throughout the year. To raise more for UNICEF, her students held a project where they collected items to sell to recycling companies. The students split the money raised between UNICEF and the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia.
All told, her students raised $500 for UNICEF last year — $135 from the coins and dollars being stuffed into those small orange boxes and $365 from items sold to recyclers.
Hughes’ creativity and passion for UNICEF were recognized by the organization. In fact, Hughes was one of five teachers around the country winning the 2013 Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF School Challenge.
And Hughes had the opportunity to travel to Tanzania in July to see UNICEF’s programs up close.
To read more about her trip go to http://m.ajc.com/news/lifestyles/teachers-creativity-to-help-unicef-led-to-chance-t/nhkyJ/
TRICK-OR-TREAT FOR UNICEF
History: In its 64-year history, the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign has raised more than $172 million in the U.S. to support UNICEF's work in providing medicine, clean water, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. About $2.7 million is raised nationally through the boxes.
Local money: Last year, about $47,000 was raised in Georgia.
How loose change can make a difference: Give a child 40 days of clean, safe water for $1; feed a malnourished child for five days for $5; vaccinate 280 children for $10.
Going digital: For the first time in its 64-year history, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is going digital. Kids and parents can go digital by fundraising through Crowdrise in support of the campaign. By going to http://www.crowdrise.com/trickortreatforunicef, families can set up a UNICEF fundraising page to share with friends and family. This allows participants (who may not go trick-or-treating) to turn a holiday party into a fundraising opportunity.
To learn more, visit http://www.trickortreatforunicef.org. Join the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #TOT4UNICEF.
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