UNICEF "Water for Life" Gala celebrates 26 years of raising life-saving funds to provide clean water for children
CALGARY, Oct. 22, 2018 /CNW/ - On November 3, Calgary will celebrate a 26-year tradition of supporting UNICEF's life-saving work for children and families around the world through its annual UNICEF "Water for Life" Gala. This year's event will feature:
- An exquisite four-course dinner created especially for the event by Hyatt Regency Calgary's Executive Chef Geoffrey Miller.
- An inspiring keynote speech by James Thuch Madhier who will share his remarkable story as a refugee of the Sudanese civil war now focused on implementing solar-powered water infrastructure for consumption and sustainable agriculture in hard-to-reach places.
- More than 160 exceptional auction items including exciting and unique experiences, vacations and works of art donated by generous individuals and businesses in support of UNICEF.
"Access to clean water is a basic human right, yet 2.2 billion people do not have access to safely managed drinking water from a local source – that is nearly one out of three people globally," said David Morley, UNICEF Canada President and CEO. "UNICEF "Water for Life" Gala reminds us year after year that much still needs to be done for every child to fulfill their right to water, because no child should ever die from drinking water."
UNICEF works to improve water supplies and sanitation facilities while promoting safe hygiene to some of the most vulnerable children in the world.
In 2017 alone, UNICEF and partners reached 45 million people with improved water supplies.
Last year, UNICEF and partners reached more people than ever before with emergency water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions, including more than 32 million provided with safe water, 9 million with improved sanitation and 28 million with hygiene promotion.
UNICEF and partners implemented large-scale responses in several ongoing crises, including those in the Syrian Arab Republic and Yemen, and in Eastern and Southern Africa. UNICEF also provided life-saving WASH support in response to cholera in Somalia, floods in Sierra Leone and the Rohingya refugee crisis in Bangladesh.
"Providing access to safe water and sanitation not only improves the life and health of the communities, it also provides the children, especially girls, with a brighter future," said Morley. "Access to water means less time spent fetching water and more time spent in school, thus bringing life-changing opportunities to children and opening up a world of possibilities. We are grateful for the dedication of Calgarians, who year after year, join us in one of the largest galas of its kind in North America and come together to support the most vulnerable children around the world."
210,000 girls benefitted from the 2017 UNICEF Gala.
Now in its 26th year, the UNICEF "Water for Life" Gala and Calgarians have together raised more than $13 million to support vulnerable children around the world. Last year's Gala raised $1,232,000. These funds are now helping to reach 210,000 girls in the West Nile region of Uganda through the installation and rehabilitation of water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure. The project is equipping 40 schools with boreholes, water systems and safe, gender-segregated and disability-friendly latrines.
This year's goal is to raise $1,250,000 to continue UNICEF's life-saving support.
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. For more information about UNICEF, please visit www.unicef.ca. For updates, follow us on Twitter and Facebook or visit unicef.ca.
Availability for media interviews:
Friday, November 2nd - media opportunity in studio with David Morley, President & CEO UNICEF Canada.
Saturday, November 3rd – media opportunity in studio or at Gala (Hyatt Regency Calgary) with David Morley, President & CEO UNICEF Canada and James Thuch Madhier, CEO The Rainmaker Enterprise.
SOURCE UNICEF Canada
To arrange interviews or for more information please contact: Holly Davidson, National Events Manager, (403) 607-0654, [email protected]; John Conley, UNICEF Water for Life Committee, (403) 771-6911, [email protected]
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