The 62nd annual Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF Halloween campaign returns this October with a new look

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Jul 16, 2012, 11:06 ET

Children and adults who Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF will now have the chance to choose from among six new character boxes or create their own design this Halloween

NEW YORK, July 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, one of the longest-running youth volunteer initiatives in America, returns for its 62nd year with a new look encouraging kids to raise money for UNICEF and make a unique and positive difference in other children's lives. For more than 60 years, America's youths have celebrated Halloween by going door-to-door collecting money for UNICEF. This fall a new cast of characters will be featured on individual collection boxes, transforming the iconic orange box in a way that allows children to express themselves while helping to raise funds for those in need around the world.

"Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is a powerful way for parents to teach their children the value of helping others and for kids to learn about the world," said Caryl Stern, President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. "This Halloween, we continue that great tradition and add a fun twist by encouraging kids to get creative with their collection boxes."

A monster, black cat, princess, pumpkin, vampire and a witch are among the new selection of characters this year.

Blank collection boxes are also available for kids and adults to design their own boxes with UNICEF's first-ever "Create-a-Character" contest. Participants are invited to design and submit their own Halloween character for a chance to be selected as Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF's 2013 limited edition collection. A winning design from each category (children grades K-3, children grades 4-6 and participants 13 years and older) will be chosen and announced on Halloween, Oct. 31. The contest will run from Sept. 1 through Oct. 26. Visit trickortreatforunicef.org to submit designs online.

To order Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF collection boxes and fundraising kits which include blank collection boxes, visit trickortreatforunicef.org or call 1-800-FOR-KIDS through Oct. 26. Supporters can donate $10 to Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF on their smart phone by texting the word "TOT" to UNICEF (864233).

Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF— the original Kids Helping Kids® campaign—has raised more than $167 million for UNICEF's lifesaving programs worldwide. The campaign owes its success over the years not only to the children, parents and educators who have taken the initiative to participate, but also to a wide array of companies and organizations that serve as invaluable partners. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF is grateful for the support of our National Sponsors Key Club International and Starcom MediaVest Group; along with Promotional Supporters American Airlines and Coinstar, Inc.

National Sponsors

Key Club International continues its support for Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF. To date, the longstanding partnership between the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and Key Club International has raised more than $5 million for UNICEF. Key Club International, a student-led service leadership program of Kiwanis International, is the oldest and largest service program for high school students.

For the first time this year, MediaVest – part of Starcom MediaVest Group and one of the leading, full-service media specialist companies – lends its support for Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF through an integrated national media campaign. Since 2008, MediaVest has been a proud promotional supporter of the UNICEF Tap Project, a national campaign to raise awareness and funds for UNICEF to provide clean water for the world's children.

Promotional Supporters

For the fourth year in a row, American Airlines supports Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF through UNICEF's Change for Good program on American Airlines. From October 24-31, American Airlines Flight Attendant volunteers, known as Champions for Children, will carry Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF collection boxes for donations of foreign and domestic currency from travelers on selected international flights. American's customers can also donate their unused change in special Halloween-themed collection boxes at Admirals Clubs and Flagship Lounges.

Now in its 15th year, Coinstar® helps make Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF easy for participants of all ages. For 365 days a year, participants of this grassroots initiative can quickly empty their orange collection boxes into over 11,000 Coinstar kiosks in participating supermarkets, drug stores, mass merchants, and financial institutions across the U.S. Coinstar owns and operates a network of self-service coin counting machines in retail locations throughout the U.S., Canada, the UK, Puerto Rico and Ireland.

Additional ways to give

FEED Projects is proud to partner with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF on the FEED Trick-or-Treat bag to benefit UNICEF. For each bag purchased in the U.S., $3.50 will be donated to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to help UNICEF provide one child in the developing world with an entire year's worth of micronutrient powders which, when sprinkled over a meal, guarantee the important nutrients a child needs to survive and thrive. The Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF FEED bag will be available at www.feedprojects.com.

About UNICEF
UNICEF has saved more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization in the world. Working in more than 150 countries, UNICEF provides children with health care, clean water, nutrition, education, emergency relief, and more. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy, and education in the United States.

UNICEF is at the forefront of efforts to reduce child mortality worldwide. There has been substantial progress: the annual number of under-five deaths dropped from more than 12 million in 1990 to 7.6 million in 2010. But still, 21,000 children die each day from preventable causes. Our mission is to do whatever it takes to make that number zero by giving children the essentials for a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.

SOURCE U.S. Fund for UNICEF