K.I.N.D. Fund Marks Nearly $40 Million Raised Since its Launch, Returns for 13th Fundraising Season Nov. 28

NEW YORK (November 28, 2023) – Now in its 13th year, the K.I.N.D. (Kids in Need of Desks) Fund – a longstanding partnership between UNICEF USA and MSNBC dedicated to bringing quality education to children in Malawi – is returning this Giving Tuesday (Nov. 28, 2023). Since inception in 2010, the partnership has raised nearly $40 million, following its most successful fundraising year in 2022.

Dedicated to empowering school children in Malawi, Africa by providing school desks to improve learning environments and scholarships to allow girls to continue their secondary education, K.I.N.D.  continues to make a real impact for Malawi’s next generation. This past October, MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell returned to Malawi for the first time since 2018 to witness the K.I.N.D. Fund’s work in action. The program has delivered more than 330,000 school desks to date, reaching more than 1.1 million learners across the country and providing scholarships for more than 27,600 schoolgirls.

“I traveled to Malawi for the first time since the COVID pandemic,” said MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell. “I was able to see firsthand how the generosity of our MSNBC audience makes a big difference for these children in Malawi. On The Last Word, we will share the stories of some of the thousands of children who are now sitting at desks and girls who are able to attend high school thanks entirely to our audience.”

“Over the years, the K.I.N.D. Fund scholarships have given vulnerable girls in Malawi - especially those from rural areas - a chance to attend and complete secondary education. By making education accessible to these girls, the scholarships provide an opportunity for the girls to transform their lives and support themselves and their families,” said UNICEF Malawi Country Representative, Shadrack Omol. “UNICEF is grateful for the Fund's contribution which has provided school desks that have significantly improved the learning environment for these children in Malawi and contributed to making a tangible impact on girls’ education in the country.”

As of 2023, approximately 62% of school children in Malawi do not have a desk or chair, making it extremely difficult to attend or stay in school and more likely to drop out. Additionally, less than half of school-age girls complete primary school with even fewer continuing on to secondary school.

A donation of $80 provides a desk for two to three students in Malawi. $185 provides a one-year secondary school scholarship to a girl in Malawi. In 2022, at the recommendation of an MSNBC viewer, UNICEF USA created a monthly donation option to support the K.I.N.D. Fund’s initiative.

Lawrence O’Donnell is the host of The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell, which airs weeknights at 10 p.m. ET on MSNBC. Each night, O’Donnell relies on his extraordinary background in politics, entertainment and news to provide the last word on the biggest issues and most compelling stories of the day. To view a clip of Lawrence O’Donnell’s interview with Joyce Chisale, a former K.I.ND. Fund student who is now in college studying medical laboratory sciences, please visit: Joyce Chisale: ‘I couldn’t have been in medical school’ without K.I.N.D.

For more information on K.I.N.D. please visit: www.unicefusa.org/kind. Stories of the program’s impact, including profiles of students who have received desks and scholarships, are available here: lastworddesks.msnbc.com

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Multimedia content available for download: PHOTO LINK and VIDEO LINK

About UNICEF

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries and territories to pursue a more equitable world for every child. UNICEF has helped save more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization, by providing health care and immunizations, safe water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more.

UNICEF USA advances the global mission of UNICEF by rallying the American public to support the world’s most vulnerable children. Together, we are working toward a world that upholds the rights of all children and helps every child thrive. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.

About MSNBC
MSNBC is the premier destination for breaking news and in-depth analysis through commentary and informed perspectives. Reaching more than 73 million households worldwide, MSNBC offers live news coverage, influential voices, and award-winning documentary programming – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. MSNBC also delivers breaking news and information across a variety of platforms including msnbc.com, MSNBC on Sirius XM radio and TuneIn. The MSNBC App for iOS also provides access to live streaming and full episodes of select programs. Watch MSNBC anywhere: On Demand, online or across mobile and connected TVs. MSNBC is part of the NBCUniversal News Group, a division of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies, which is owned by Comcast Corporation. For more corporate information, visit www.nbcuniversal.com.

Press Contacts:

UNICEF USA

Nina Marie Costa, Deputy Director, UNICEF USA, nmcosta@unicefusa.org

MSNBC

Natalie Munio, MSNBC PR, Natalie.Munio@nbcuni.com