IKEA Efforts Raise over $2.3 Million Worldwide as Part of Holiday Program Benefiting Save the Children and UNICEF

Furniture World Magazine

IKEA, a world's leading home furnishings retailer, announced the successful results of its holiday gift program benefiting Save the Children and UNICEF. The IKEA "A Child's Smile Is Worth So Much" initiative raised over $2.3 million worldwide through the sale of IKEA soft toys by donating $1 to the child advocacy organizations for each soft toy purchased at IKEA stores*. Funds donated to Save the Children will benefit its education programs in Bhutan, while UNICEF is using its donation toward its child protection, health and education programs to help children in need around the world. The IKEA initiative demonstrated how the act of just one single purchase could make such a deep impact on the lives of children all over the globe. The $1 donation applied to the purchase of IKEA soft toys such as: MINNEN GRODA frog ($6.99), MINNEN DRAKE dragon ($9.99) and KLAPPAR ELEFANT ($12.99 for set of two). "We are proud of the IKEA 'A Child's Smile is Worth So Much' initiative and thankful to our hundreds of thousands of customers who demonstrated the true spirit of the holiday season by participating in this initiative," said John Zurcher, social responsibility and environment manager, IKEA U.S. "The holiday season should be the most joyous time of the year for children and families everywhere. By teaming up with Save the Children and UNICEF, IKEA, its co-workers and customers are continuing to do their parts in making the world a stronger, more caring community." "We are grateful to IKEA customers who participated in this special holiday promotion," said Charles MacCormack, president and CEO of Save the Children. "Many more children and teachers in schools in some of the most remote communities in Bhutan will benefit from the funds raised through this program." "The support of companies like IKEA and their patrons help UNICEF achieve its mission to bring basic care and education to children who need it most. For this, UNICEF and the children it serves are very thankful," said Charles J. Lyons, president of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. "This donation will help UNICEF bring life-saving polio vaccinations to children in Niger and support UNICEF programs assisting children and parents in other countries." IKEA is donating 335,000 quilts to UNICEF in support of earthquake relief in Kashmir. The first shipment has already arrived in the earthquake-ravaged region to help thousands of earthquake survivors. IKEA US stores have supported UNICEF programs around the world for 20 years, including its UNICEF holiday card program, which raised over $300,000 this season. Save the Children is the leading independent organization creating real and lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world. It is a member of the International Save the Children Alliance, comprising 27 national Save the Children organizations working in more than 110 countries to ensure the well-being of children. For five years, IKEA has supported Save the Children's reading and literacy programs for children ages 5 to 12 in many of the poorest rural communities across the United States with a contribution of $500,000. To visit Save the Children's Web site, go to http://www.savethechildren.org. Founded in 1946, UNICEF helps save, protect and improve the lives of children in 157 countries through immunization, education, health care, nutrition, clean water and sanitation. UNICEF is non-partisan and its cooperation is free of discrimination. In everything it does, the most disadvantaged children and the countries in greatest need have priority. For more information about UNICEF or to make donation, please visit www.unicefusa.org or call 1-800-4UNICEF. Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered a wide range of home furnishings and accessories of good design and function, at low prices so the majority of the people can afford them. IKEA was recently ranked for a second year in a row to FORTUNE's annual "100 Best Companies to Work For" List, Working Mother magazine's annual list of "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" (three years in a row) and Training magazine's annual "Top 100" ranking of companies that excel at human capital development (three years in a row). IKEA currently has more than 225 stores in 33 countries, including 26 in the U.S. Other store locations being planned include: Brooklyn, NY; Canton, MI; Draper, UT; Dublin, CA; Portland, OR; Round Rock, TX; Somerville, MA and West Sacramento, CA. IKEA is recognized as a socially responsible company, and continuously supports initiatives that benefit causes such as children and the environment. To visit the IKEA Web site, go to http://www.IKEA-usa.com. For information about working at IKEA, please visit http://JobsAt.IKEA-usa.com.