Celebrating Good Deeds: The October Sparkler of the Month

Sparklers is a monthly series that highlights those spreading light in the world. We’re celebrating good deeds and those who choose to shine in October 2019.  And since this month is all about dressing up as some of our favorite heroines and heroes, it’s the perfect time to shine a light on the folks doing real hero work with Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF this Halloween. Our correspondent Jillian Tangen shares their inspiring story.

celebrating good deeds in october 2019

Every day, people choose to shine in ways large and small. These moments of grace and generosity don’t always get reported on, and unfortunately, they can be quickly forgotten. So we’re celebrating good deeds and kind acts in October 2019.  Because sometimes good news and kindness are the sweetest luxuries of all.

Each month, we shine a light on an organization or an individual. Our Sparkler for the month? This October, we’re celebrating the good deeds of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF.  For teaching kids that giving back is just as sweet as candy, hats off to Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF.

the october sparkler of the month: trick-or-treat for unicef

These days, the coming of fall also means the arrival of huge bags of bite-sized candies in grocery store aisles. Ready and waiting for Halloween candy bowls, trick-or-treating children and the occasional 4:00P afternoon snack attack. 

It also means the return of those familiar little orange boxes appealing for donations to the United Nations Children’s Fund. You might recall them from your childhood.  And with the help of Zendaya, Hedi Klum and other celebrities, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is back and working just as hard as ever to help kids in need around the world.

the origin story

Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF began 69 years ago as a way to aide children that were still being affected by World War II.

It all started with Mary Emma Allison, who together with her children, came upon a UNICEF parade in downtown Philadelphia.  Upon seeing a banner saying that one penny would buy 20 glasses of milk for a child in need, the family came up with an idea of how they could contribute. 

Instead of collecting candy that Halloween, they would collect pennies to donate to UNICEF, filling empty milk cartons tied around their arms with an orange band.  That first Halloween, the family raised $17. Right before Thanksgiving, they received a phone call from the office of Eleanor Roosevelt, the US ambassador to the United Nations at the time.  She told the Allison family that their Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF effort had raised more funds for the organization than any other event, ever. 

And so Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF was born.

the mission

The United Nations Children’s Fund was started in 1946 to aid refugees in war-torn Europe.  Since then its focus has grown to include aid for children worldwide with a mandate to provide them with health care, food, clean water, education and emergency relief.

UNICEF works with various organizations and governments to help overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path.  They promote girls’ education and provide immunizations against common childhood diseases, ultimately creating protective environments for children in need around the world.  

impact

Since the Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign kicked off in 1950 via the Allison family, it has raised nearly $177 million to help UNICEF provide children with healthcare, nutrition, safe water, emergency relief and educational services.

While some might not see the difference some spare change can make, it’s huge: $1 can provide safe water to a child for more than 2 months, $3 can provide 7 packets of therapeutic food, $5 can provide a 10 pack of notebooks and $7 can provide a warm fleece blanket.

On top of that, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF has been a tangible and hands on way for kids to get involved in helping others.  After all, it’s never too early to teach kids the joy of doing good for others. Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is a fun and easy way to start. 

Thank you to all the scary good kids out there that are helping kids in need this Halloween.  And thank you to Trick-or-Treat UNICEF for making it easy to have a big impact on the lives of the people who need it the most – kids.

choose to shine

We’ll highlight one new Sparkler every month. If you’d like to nominate a person or organization, send us your suggestions!

In the meantime, we’ll take inspiration from those who choose to shine as we head into a new month. Let’s work to make it brilliant.

join our community

For access to insider ideas and information on the world of luxury, sign up for our Dandelion Chandelier newsletter here. And see luxury in a new light.

Jillian Tangen is the Head of Research at Dandelion Chandelier. Formerly, she was a Senior Research Analyst at McKinsey & Co and Analyst at Shearman & Sterling. She is an avid fan of Nordic design, having owned an independent lifestyle store and sales agency focused on emerging Scandinavian design. Jillian lives in NYC and is married with three young children. She loves cross country skiing, the New York Rangers, reading, travel and discovering new brands.

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