Sweet Charity: Trick or Treat for UNICEF

October 20, 2011 at 4:23 pm
by familycircle

unicef box

While not generally viewed as the most charitable of holidays (unless you count the free candy), Halloween can actually be the perfect time to show your generosity and teach your children the importance of giving back, thanks to UNICEF’s Trick-or-Treat program. For more than 60 years, UNICEF has been bringing out the nation’s sweet side, with over $164 million raised to date, allowing children all over the world to receive healthcare, clean water, nutrition, emergency relief and education.  To help spread the message of Kids Helping Kids, this year’s Halloween celebration has more to offer than ever before, including the first-ever online costume party, hosted by this year’s ambassador, Heidi Klum. Supporters can set up their own online fundraising page to keep track of donations, and create a virtual costume by uploading their picture to the website and selecting the design of their choice. For each donation they make, in any amount, an additional accessory will be added to their costume and the photos can be shared with family and friends via Facebook and Twitter. Prospective party hosts who visit the website will find a Planning Tool kit, showing them how to throw their own UNICEF Halloween party, complete with decoration and activity ideas, as well as donation pages and tips for successful fundraising. Kids going the more traditional route by toting the iconic orange collection box door-to-door will be in for another treat, as the UNICEF staple will feature a Microsoft barcode, allowing anyone with smartphone technology to make a donation to UNICEF simply by scanning it. Supporters can also text “TOT” to UNICEF (864233) from any mobile device, making it easier than ever to give. Donation boxes can be ordered through the UNICEF website, trickortreatforunicef.org, by phone at 1-800-FOR-KIDS and at all Croc stores nationwide.

—Kara Giannecchini

Share with us in the comments below some stories of how you’ve helped teach your kids to give back during the holidays.

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