United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) was founded as the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in 1946, in order to provide emergency relief to children in need across postwar Europe. When the fund became a permanent part of the United Nations system of organizations in 1953, the name was shortened to the current version, although the familiar acronym stuck.

UNICEF is currently headquartered in New York City, and raises funds from government and private donor contributions in order to provide long-term developmental assistance and disaster relief to developing countries, with a particular programming emphasis on children and mothers. About two-thirds of UNICEF's operating funds come from government contributions, with the rest raised through donations.

Public Attention to the Plight of Children

The public face of UNICEF is ...

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