UNICEF www.unicefusa.org 1-800-FOR-KIDS UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, was founded in 1946 to meet the emergency needs of children in war-torn Europe and China. By 1950, UNICEF's mandate was extended to address the problems of children in the developing world. UNICEF now works in more than 160 countries and territories throughout Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, and Eastern and Central Europe. Through its field offices, UNICEF cooperates with governments and community organizations to help meet the needs of children, according to the particular situations and priorities of a given country. UNICEF focuses on the major causes of death and disease among children and mothers by providing improved health care, better nutrition, safe water and sanitation, basic education and emergency assistance in times of conflict and natural disaster. UNICEF's work today is formed by the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the world's most widely ratified human rights treaty, as well as the 1990 World Summit for Children, where 71 heads of state reached agreement on major child health and education goals for the year 2000. A Special Session of the General Assembly on Children's Issues will convene in September 2001 to review progress since 1990 and chart a course for the next decade. UNICEF is a semi-autonomous agency of the United Nations with its own executive board. It derives its financial support entirely from voluntary contributions made by governments, foundations, corporations, national committees for UNICEF and individuals around the world. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF works for the survival, protection and development of children worldwide through education, advocacy and fundraising. Created in 1947, it is the oldest of 37 national committees in industrialized countries that support UNICEF's mission. The U.S. Fund has raised more than $400 million for UNICEF-assisted projects through its famous Trick or Treat campaigns, the sale of holiday cards and generous contributions made by individuals, foundations and corporations. In addition to working to educate the American public about the problems facing the world's children, the U.S. Fund for UNICEF raises money for specific programs that help to bring those issues to the forefront. Made With Love Project www.madewithloveproject.com Founded by Mary JaneMarcasiano, MADE WITH LOVE is a non-profit global initiative dedicated to raising funds and awareness for NGOs aiding women and children in need through the production and sale of fair trade indigenous products. In Africa, MADE WITH LOVE supports A.S.A.O. and their program L'Empire des Enfants. In 2002 A.S.A.O. created their program L’Empire des Enfants, renting and restoring an abandoned cinema in Dakar Senegal as a space to offer programs for at risk children from the streets of Dakar - providing them with meals, education and training programs.The bracelets are hand made by a women's co-operative in Djenné Mali from recycled rubber. These women are paid by A.S.A.O. over three times the going rate for the bracelets, thus providing them with a viable means of support. In turn, A.S.A.O. sells the bracelets to raise funds for their programs in Dakar Senegal. This dual structure funnels support to two worthy causes in Africa providing aid to both women and children. Made With Love is devoted to increasing revenues for these projects through direct consumer sales and by arranging strategic marketing alliances. FINCA http://www.villagebanking.org FINCA International provides financial services to the world's lowest-income entrepreneurs so they can create jobs, build assets and improve their standard of living. We target the poorest of the working poor: those who have the least access to services such as loans, savings programs, and insurance. Our clients include women, who make up 70 percent of the world's poor; individuals unable to find work in the formal sector; families displaced by war and internal conflict; the rural poor; and those affected by chronic poverty. With more than 20 years' experience and over 500,000 clients on four continents, FINCA offers a proven solution to poverty. The Humane Society of New York www.humanesocietyny.org The Humane Society of New York is dedicated to fostering humane care and assistance to animals through advocacy as well as through their facility at: Humane Society of New York 306 East 59th Street New York, NY 10022 Phone: (212) 752-4842 Fax: (212) 752-2803 ARF www.arfhamptons.petfinder.org ARF is the leading non-profit animal shelter on the East End of Long Island, and since its founding has placed over 10,000 cats and dogs in loving homes. In addition to providing shelter and adoption services, ARF serves the community in many ways. Operation Cat, a trap, alter and release program for feral cats, which is completely volunteer driven, plays a large role in humanely reducing the feral cat population from Hampton Bays to Montauk. PUP (People United With Pets) helps individuals with life-threatening illnesses and victims of domestic abuse care for their pets within their homes. Through its pet therapy program, ARF strives to enhance the lives of the elderly and children by bringing cats and dogs to nursing homes and day-care centers. ASPCA www.aspca.org The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was founded in 1866 as the first humane organization in the Western Hemisphere. Today, the ASPCA has over 475,000 members and donors and continues to prevent cruelty and alleviate the pain, fear and suffering of animals through nationwide education, awareness and legislative programs. The ASPCA headquarters in New York City houses one of the area's largest full-service animal hospitals, an adoption facility, and the Humane Law Enforcement Department, which is responsible for enforcing New York's animal cruelty laws.