Over 200 celebrities, business leaders and philanthropists attend UNICEF Canada's premiere event
TORONTO, Oct. 25, 2013 /CNW/ - The UNICEF Experience held on Wednesday, October 23 at Koerner Hall, brought the work of UNICEF around the world home to Toronto. More than 200 guests experienced firsthand the life-changing work of UNICEF in countries around the world and tried out some of the daily work of UNICEF through hands-on interactive displays including vaccinating a child against polio and testing for malnutrition.
Following welcoming remarks by UNICEF Canada Ambassador Veronica Tennant and special guest Colm Wilkinson, guests also watched the exclusive screening of Cold Chain Mission, a BBC documentary featuring UNICEF UK Ambassador Ewan McGregor as he travels with health workers by boat, train, motorcycle and on foot into remote villages in India and Nepal to bring life saving vaccines.
As the honorary chair of the UNICEF Experience, Veronica Tennant reminded the guests that 18,000 children still die every day from preventable illnesses. "Ewan McGregor's film speaks to the lengths UNICEF will go to reach children who need us, the risks we will take to get to them - and the depth of our commitment to saving their lives."
The event was sponsored by BD Canada, Newalta, Toronto lawyer and UNICEF Canada Chair of the Board, Noella Milne and her husband Chris, and International Graphics. After experiencing UNICEF's work, guests purchased UNICEF Canada's Survival Gifts which include emergency nutrition supplies, clean water kits, and vaccine packs. Over 108,000 children will receive life saving support through the funds raised at the UNICEF Experience.
"We were honoured that so many Canadians joined us for this inaugural UNICEF Experience," said David Morley, UNICEF Canada President and CEO. "In bringing home UNICEF's work to save children's lives Canadians can truly see how their support is making a difference for children no matter how far."
Working in virtually every country in the world, UNICEF has the singular focus of reaching the hardest to reach communities. Just this week, UNICEF launched a campaign to immunize 2.4 million children in Syria against polio, measles, mumps and rubella. By making that extraordinary effort for children caught in the most complex, difficult or remote circumstances UNICEF saves more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization. UNICEF Experience was an opportunity for Torontonians to join UNICEF on that journey - to see how their support can and is saving children's lives.
The next UNICEF Experience will be held on November 6 in Montreal at Espace Réunion. Tickets can be purchased at www.unicef.ca/experience.
For more information on UNICEF Canada's Survival Gifts, please visit www.unicef.ca/gifts.
About UNICEF
UNICEF has saved more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization. We work tirelessly to help children and their families, doing whatever it takes to ensure children survive. We provide children with healthcare and immunization, clean water, nutrition and food security, education, emergency relief and more.
UNICEF is supported entirely by voluntary donations and helps children regardless of race, religion or politics. As part of the UN, we are active in over 190 countries - more than any other organization. Our determination and our reach are unparalleled. Because nowhere is too far to go to help a child survive.
Image with caption: "UNICEF Canada President and CEO David Morley joined by eTalk reporter and co-host of The Social Traci Melchor, UNICEF Canada Ambassador Veronica Tennant and Irish-Canadian tenor and actor Colm Wilkinson at the premiere of The UNICEF Experience in Toronto. unicef.ca/experience (CNW Group/UNICEF Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131025_C7334_PHOTO_EN_32591.jpg
Image with caption: "Hands-on interactive exhibits at the launch of The UNICEF Experience in Toronto. unicef.ca/experience (CNW Group/UNICEF Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131025_C7334_PHOTO_EN_32592.jpg
Image with caption: "UNICEF Canada's International Programs Manager Simon Chorley with Noella Milne, UNICEF Canada Chair of the Board and Lili Campbell, Principal at Profis at the launch of The UNICEF Experience at Koerner Hall in Toronto. unicef.ca/experience (CNW Group/UNICEF Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131025_C7334_PHOTO_EN_32594.jpg
SOURCE: UNICEF Canada
Layal Horanieh,
Office: (514) 288-5134 ext. 8425 | Cell: (514) 232-4510
UNICEF is the world’s leading humanitarian organization focused on children. We work in the most challenging areas to provide protection, healthcare and immunizations, education, safe water and sanitation and nutrition. As part of the United Nations, our unrivaled reach...
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