Collect Money for UNICEF this Halloween

Send a Mobile Text Message Donation or Gather Change to Save Lives

Sep 9, 2009

Collecting change for UNICEF on Halloween is a rite of passage for school children, but adults can get in on the action by making donations with mobile text messages.

Collecting money and donating it to UNICEF (the United Nations Children's Fund) has never been easier. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF has several ways individuals, children and groups can collect change and donate money to the global organization that saves kids' lives in more than 150 countries. UNICEF's programs provide clean water, nutrition, medicines, education and aid in emergencies.

Donate to UNICEF with Text Messages

The Text-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign makes it easy for individuals to contribute to UNICEF. Instead of waiting for trick-or-treaters to arrive with UNICEF collection boxes, simply text the word “TOT” to UNICEF at 864233 to make a one-time, $5 donation. Encourage others to make a donation to UNICEF via text message by sending emails to friends and including notes in Halloween party invitations.

After sending the text message, a one-time $5 charge is placed on the cell phone bill by the Mobile Giving Foundation (MGF), along with the standard text messaging or data rates. The wireless operator collects the entire $5 donation and sends it to MGF, which in turn grants the entire donation to UNICEF. In the case of prepaid cell phones, the $5 donation is deducted from the prepaid balance.

Create a UNICEF Fund-Raising Website

Those who want to collect donations for UNICEF without handling cash can create their own Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF fund-raising webpage. To begin, decide whether to form a team, join someone else’s team or to collect as an individual. Create a fund-raising goal and begin collecting donations through the secure website by inviting friends and family to make donations.

Collect Change in UNICEF Boxes

Parents who want to share the rite of passage of carrying UNICEF boxes and collecting change while trick-or-treating on Halloween have several options for getting kids involved with charitable giving. Parents can pick up boxes, create their own collection can or order a fund-raising kit online.

Parents can pick up boxes at Hallmark Gold Crown stores beginning Sept. 15, 2009, or at participating Pier 1 Imports or Baskin Robbins stores after Oct. 1, 2009. To create a canister, simply print a UNICEF label. Parents, PTA and school officials who want to coordinate a Halloween fund-raiser can order collection boxes and a special Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF fund-raising kit online.

UNICEF also has resources for parents and teachers online. Parents and teachers can sign up to receive the Youth Action eNews with UNICEF news and ways to involve children. Also available for download are a 30-day family activity calendar and parent letter to help adults explain the importance of charitable acts.

How to Donate Money to UNICEF

After the change is collected on Halloween, there are a few different options for getting the money to UNICEF. Donations can be made online or over the phone with a credit card. Money orders and checks can be mailed to Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, 125 Maiden Lane, New York, N.Y. 10038. Or go to a Coinstar® Center and donate the money to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF using code #5555. The Coinstar will count the change and provide a receipt for the full amount to be donated to UNICEF.

The U.S. Fund for UNICEF makes it easy to support the United Nations Children's Fund and its efforts to save children’s lives. Make a $5 donation with mobile text messages or create a website to collect donations for UNICEF online. Parents, teachers and organizations can make collecting change for UNICEF part of their Halloween tradition with collection boxes and other tools available online.

The copyright of the article Collect Money for UNICEF this Halloween in Anti-Poverty Activism is owned by Genna Cockerham. Permission to republish Collect Money for UNICEF this Halloween in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.