Gucci
Partner since 2005
Total Donated: Over $8 million
2010 marked the sixth anniversary of the global Gucci/UNICEF partnership, which began in 2005 when Gucci introduced the first annual Gucci Campaign to Benefit UNICEF. In this campaign, Gucci stores in over 20 countries donate a percentage of sales from a special group of products to support UNICEF programs for orphans and children affected by HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa.
Each year, Gucci has intensified the company's commitment to UNICEF and to saving and improving children's lives by expanding the annual campaign and introducing significant new initiatives to support the partnership.
2005-2009
The Gucci Campaign to Benefit UNICEF
In the six-year period from 2005 to 2010, Gucci has committed over $8 million to UNICEF, making Gucci the largest corporate donor to the Schools for Africa campaign. Watch this video celebrating the anniversary of the partnership.
Since 2005, Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini has designed an exclusive accessories collection dedicated to the Gucci Campaign to Benefit UNICEF. Gucci stores worldwide donate a percentage of sales during the holiday season from this special collection dedicated to the UNICEF partnership. The Gucci campaign has consistently supported UNICEF programs in Malawi and Mozambique, and in 2009 expanded to support programs in South Africa. Collectively, over 2.3 million children have been orphaned by the HIV/AIDS pandemic in these three countries. Funds generated from sales in China support UNICEF programs for children affected by HIV/AIDS in China
In 2008, the White Tattoo Heart collection was created and supported for the first time by a global advertising campaign featuring Grammy Award-winning artist Rihanna.
© Gucci
Gucci JOY BAG
For the 2009 campaign, Giannini commissioned acclaimed Fashion Director, author and illustrator Michael Roberts to create a new children's book entitled Snowman in Africa. Gucci donated 100% of the $25 retail price of the book to UNICEF for each book sold in Gucci stores and on Gucci.com from November 16—December 31, 2009. Taking inspiration from Michael Roberts' illustrations, Giannini also designed exclusive Gucci accessories as well as a Gucci Gift Card to benefit UNICEF. Gucci donated 25% of the retail price of the dedicated accessories collection and special edition Gift Cards to UNICEF as well.
2007-2010
Gucci for UNICEF
© Gucci
In 2007, Frida Giannini created a special product to extend the company's commitment to UNICEF throughout the year, to complement the holiday campaign. The exclusive "Gucci for UNICEF" Indy bag was launched in November 2007 and was dedicated to UNICEF for one full year to increase its fundraising potential. Giannini designed and launched a second product, the special edition "Gucci for UNICEF" Baboushka bag, in February 2009, and donated 25% of the retail price to UNICEF for each bag sold for a full year.
To celebrate the 6th year of its partnership with UNICEF, Gucci has launched the third "Gucci for UNICEF" campaign. The special edition "Gucci for UNICEF" Sukey bag will be sold in Gucci stores in over 20 countries worldwide and at gucci.com from April 15, 2010 until February 28, 2011. Gucci will donate 25 percent of the retail price from all sales of the "Gucci for UNICEF" bag to support UNICEF's "Schools for Africa" programs in Malawi and Mozambique.
Photo Essay
View a UNICEF photography essay in South Africa that was funded by Gucci in 2010.
A Night to benefit Malawi and UNICEF
Caryl Stern, President & CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF; Event Chair Madonna; Lourdes Ciccione; Frida Giannini, Creative Director of Gucci; and Mark Lee, CEO of Gucci at the A Night to Benefit Malawi and UNICEF event.
The evening of February 6, 2008, Gucci presented a major fundraising event in New York together with Madonna. Co-chaired by Gucci’s Creative Director, Frida Giannini, the evening was dedicated to raising funds and awareness for orphans and children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Through ticket sales and a live auction, the event successfully raised a total of approximately $2.7 million to benefit UNICEF's Schools for Africa program.
Results
The annual Gucci Campaign to Benefit UNICEF has consistently supported education, healthcare, protection and clean water programs for orphans and children affected by HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. In this five-year period, Gucci committed over $7 million to UNICEF, resulting in Gucci’s current status as the largest corporate donor to UNICEF's Schools for Africa campaign. Schools for Africa is a joint campaign established in 2004 by UNICEF, the Nelson Mandela Foundation, and the Hamburg Society. The initiative aims to increase access to quality basic schooling for all, with a special emphasis on helping the most disadvantaged—including children orphaned by HIV/AIDS and children living in extreme poverty.
The 2009-2010 Gucci for UNICEF Baboushka bag also supported UNICEF's Schools for Africa campaign. Funds from each 2007-8 Gucci for UNICEF Indy bag provided medicines to keep 250 HIV-positive or HIV-exposed infants in Malawi healthy for one year or therapeutic nutrition to strengthen five HIV-positive children in Mozambique.
Field visit to Malawi
Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini traveled with UNICEF to Malawi to see first-hand how Gucci’s support of UNICEF is making a difference in the lives of thousands of children in sub-Saharan Africa.
In November 2009, Frida Giannini traveled with UNICEF to Malawi to see first-hand how Gucci's support to UNICEF is making a difference in the lives of thousands of children in sub-Saharan Africa. Giannini visited schools, a care center for orphans, and a hospital and reaffirmed Gucci's on-going commitment to aiding these essential UNICEF programs.
For more info, please visit http://www.gucci.com/us/us-english/philanthropy/unicef/history/.
