IKEA latest soft toys collection designed by children
Soft Toy for Education Campaign returns to help children get a better life through education
(Conshohocken, PA – October 28, 2015) The IKEA Soft Toys for Education Campaign returns. In its 13th year, this good cause partnership between the IKEA Foundation, UNICEF and Save the Children aims to provide quality education to children living in poverty in some of the world’s poorest countries. For every soft toy or children’s book sold from November 1, 2015 until December 26, 2015, the IKEA Foundation donates approximately $1.11 (€1)* to Save the Children and UNICEF.
This year, children from around the world have designed a special limited collection for the campaign; it’s a way for children to help other children get a better start in life through education. Last year, IKEA Family invited all their customers’ children to design their dream soft toy. After receiving thousands of wonderful contributions, ten winners were chosen. The winning soft toys in the competition became patterns for the new collection named SAGOSKATT. This year, the drawing competition returns, giving even more children the opportunity to design their dream soft toy for a good cause.
“These soft toys are truly fun and imaginative, but they also have a special meaning. As IKEA Foundation donates €1 per sold soft toy to UNICEF and Save the Children, this means that children are helping children to build a better future for themselves.” Bodil Fritjofsson, Product Developer, IKEA of Sweden.
Since 2003, the IKEA Soft Toys for Education program has been focusing on providing quality education to vulnerable children living in poverty in developing countries. To date, it has improved education for more than 11 million children in 46 countries and raised $102 million (€77 million).
“We can only overcome poverty if we make education a priority for all children. We especially need to invest in a quality education for girls, children with disabilities and children from minority communities. No child should be left behind.” Per Heggenes, CEO IKEA Foundation
“All children should have the opportunity to go to school,” said Lars Petersson, IKEA US President. “We continue to put our hearts into selling IKEA soft toys so that children in the most poverty stricken areas can benefit by getting a good education. We also couldn’t be more pleased to include children helping children with this year’s soft toy design competition. We hope our US customers – and all the world – will support this program so more children will have the opportunity to continue their education and help build a brighter future.”
Through the IKEA iWitness program, IKEA co-workers get to see first-hand how the campaigns they support create a better everyday life for children and their families in developing countries.
Click here for more information www.IKEA-USA.com/goodcause
Words from the partners
Supporting Education—Together
“Thanks to the longstanding partnership with the IKEA Foundation, and with the incredible support of IKEA employees and customers, UNICEF continues to provide millions of vulnerable children around the world with access to education, safe spaces to learn, and the path towards a better life and a brighter future,” said Caryl M. Stern, President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.
“A quality education helps children climb the ladder of opportunity and create a better and brighter future, and for 12 years, Save the Children has been proud to partner with IKEA to positively impact many children’s futures,” said Carolyn Miles, president and CEO of Save the Children. “By adding a children’s book or soft toy to their holiday gift list, IKEA shoppers can help the kids in their own life – and kids around the world – read, play and learn.”
IKEA Group: Mona Astra Liss, US Corporate PR Director, (610) 834-0180, ext. 5852, Mona.Liss@IKEA.com
Save the Children: Jeremy Soulliere, Manager, Media & Communications, (203) 295-5842, Jsoulliere@savechildren.org
UNICEF: Andrea Sioris, Deputy Director, Public Relations, (212) 880-9136, asioris@unicefusa.org
About IKEA Group
The IKEA vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people. Our business idea supports this vision by offering a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them. There are currently 329 IKEA Group stores in 27 countries. There are 41 IKEA stores in the US. In FY 15, IKEA Group had 716 million visitors to the stores and 1.9 billion visitors to IKEA.com. IKEA incorporates sustainability into day-to-day business and supports initiatives that benefit children and the environment. For more information, please visit www.IKEA.com, facebook.com/IKEAUSA, @IKEAUSANews, @IKEAUSA, http://pinterest.com/IKEAUSA/, www.youtube.com/IKEAUSA, www.theshare-space.com, www.theshare-space.com/en/Blog
About IKEA Foundation
The IKEA Foundation aims to improve opportunities for children and youth in some of the world’s poorest communities by funding holistic, long-term programs that can create substantial, lasting change. The IKEA Foundation works with strong strategic partners applying innovative approaches to achieve large-scale results in four fundamental areas of a child’s life: a place to call home; a healthy start in life; a quality education; and sustainable family income. Currently-funded programs benefit an estimated 100 million children. Learn more at www.ikeafoundation.org and www.facebook/IKEAfoundation
About Save the Children
Save the Children gives children in the United States and around the world a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. We invest in childhood — every day, in times of crisis and for our future. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
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. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF 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. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.
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