Press Release

UNICEF USA Invites Americans to Show the World Their Kid Power and Help End Global Malnutrition this May with UNICEF Kid Power

Join the Team, Get Active and Save Lives this May

NEW YORK (April 20, 2017) – UNICEF USA is inviting kids and families in the U.S. to get active and save lives with UNICEF Kid Power this May.Only 1 in 4 American kids get enough physical activity, while almost 1 in 4 children globally are malnourished.  Throughout the first-ever UNICEF Kid Power Month kids, kids–at –heart, parents, teachers and global citizens in all 50 states will tap into their inner Kid Power to tackle this challenge using the Kid Power App or Kid Power Band, the world’s first Wearable-for-Good®.  They will get active to help UNICEF USA achieve its goal of unlocking 1,000,000 Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) packets during the month of May.  To support this goal and UNICEF’s work for severely malnourished children around the world, kids can go on a UNICEF Kid Power Mission – a virtual, global journey – activate social media challenges and celebrate the program’s impact at local events starting May 1, 2017. 

Here’s how UNICEF Kid Power works: As kids get active, they’re supporting UNICEF’s nutrition programs and helping their peers around the world. Kids earn points for their activity as they go on Missions to unlock lifesaving RUTF packets that UNICEF delivers to severely malnourished children around the world. The more kids move, the more points they earn and the more lives they save. With conflict and famine threatening nearly 1.4 million children in South Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, Yemen and other areas, there is an urgent need for UNICEF to provide RUTF packets to every child that needs it.

UNICEF Kid Power is a program of UNICEF USA and is supported by Presenting Sponsors Star Wars: Force for Change and Target. 

"UNICEF has been innovating to save and protect the world’s most vulnerable children for more than 70 years—UNICEF Kid Power is an exciting way to harness the positive energy and activity of American kids and families while supporting UNICEF’s nutrition efforts in a real way,” said Caryl Stern, President and CEO, UNICEF USA. “This May, we have an opportunity to make real impact for the children of South Sudan, Mozambique, Haiti and elsewhere that need vital nutrition support to stave off famine and malnutrition and live healthy and happy lives.”

To date, more than 200,000 people have joined the UNICEF Kid Power team. By running, jumping, playing and getting active, these inspired Americans have unlocked more than 6.4 million packets of protein and vitamin-rich Ready-to-use Therapeutic Food packets -- enough to provide a full course of lifesaving nutrition for more than 40,000 children in countries around the globe. 

Beginning this month, it will be easier than ever for everyone to get involved. Kids and families can continue to use their Kid Power Band or they can join the Team in a Band free capacity. The UNICEF Kid Power App is now compatible with your smartphone and many popular activity trackers – no Band required!  By syncing this technology with the UNICEF Kid Power App, everyone can use their daily activity to support UNICEF’s work to put children first. 

This year to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Star Wars franchise, UNICEF Kid Power and Star Wars: Force For Change have released a limited edition 40th Anniversary gray band which is available at www.unicefkidpower.org, your local Target store, or Target.com through August.  UNICEF Kid Power will be giving away a limited-edition Star Wars Band to one lucky winner once a day through the month of May.

“Star Wars: Force for Change harnesses the strength of Star Wars to empower and improve the lives of children around the world. Force for Change is proud to continue to support UNICEF Kid Power to ensure children around the world have a brighter future.” Kayleen Walters, VP, Franchise Marketing & Integrated Planning, Lucasfilm. “We hope our collaboration with UNICEF Kid Power will continue to inspire fans around the world to get involved.”

“Target’s partnership with UNICEF shows the power of bringing a compelling product to market that both inspires our guests and helps drive global social change,” said Jennifer Silberman, chief sustainability officer, Target. “Since we joined forces in 2015, we’ve helped hundreds of thousands of kids and their families get active and save lives and look forward to continuing that momentum during Kid Power Month this May.”

Get Involved with UNICEF Kid Power Month 2017

  • Complete a UNICEF Kid Power Mission and provide lifesaving RUTF packets
    o   Buy a Band at unicefkidpower.org or Target or download the App
    o   Connect the App to your phone or most existing fitness trackers
     
  • Attend a UNICEF Kid Power Event for a fun family celebration:
    o   Atlanta– May 6, 2017 / Lenox Square
    o   Los Angeles– May 13, 2017 / Microsoft Square
    o   Chicago – May 20, 2017 / Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier
     
  • Donate to support UNICEF’s Nutrition work here
     
  • Share your UNICEF Kid Power Story on social media #UNICEFKidPower
     

About UNICEF Kid Power
UNICEF Kid Power activates kids’ inner heroes, giving them the power to end global malnutrition and save lives, one step at a time. With the UNICEF Kid Power Band – the world’s first Wearable-for-Good®–kids use their activity to unlock lifesaving nutrition that UNICEF delivers to severely malnourished children around the world. Created to help solve the global challenge that 1 in 4 kids around the world is malnourished, while only 1 in 4 American kids is getting enough physical activity, the UNICEF Kid Power Band was named by TIME Magazine as one of the ‘Best Inventions’ of 2016. Kid Power is COPPA and CISPA compliant. UNICEF Kid Power is a program of UNICEF USA and is made possible thanks to the generous support of Presenting Sponsors Star Wars: Force for Change and Target, as well as local supporters, parents and fans. Learn more and join the team by visiting www.unicefkidpower.org, your local Target store, or Target.com.

About UNICEF
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries and territories to put children first. UNICEF has helped save more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization, by providing health care and immunizations, clean water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. UNICEF USA supports UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy and education in the United States. Together, we are working toward the day when no children die from preventable causes and every child has a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.

For more information, contact Julianne Feller at jfeller@unicefusa.org, 212-922-2650