The Academy recently called on members to make gifts to UNICEF USA to help Ukrainian children and families displaced by the war with Russia and the AAP Disaster Recovery Fund to build resources to help in the recovery process.
In just one month, members contributed over $24,000 to UNICEF USA and over $10,000 to the Disaster Recovery Fund.
“When the Russian invasion of Ukraine began, my husband and I watched the news coverage with much sadness and concern,” said Pamela J. Sanders, M.D., FAAP, who donated to UNICEF. “We wanted to do something to help the families caught in this conflict. As a pediatrician, I believe every child is precious and deserving of hope!”
The generosity from AAP members is helping meet the needs of children from Ukraine through UNICEF’s on-the-ground programs. Donations are providing safe water, health care, education and protection. UNICEF has sent more than 1,400 tons of emergency supplies to health and social institutions in Ukraine, including family hygiene kits, baby diapers, maternal health kits, institutional hygiene kits, disinfectants and bottled water. Vital medical supplies have reached over 700,000 people through hospitals and maternity homes.
UNICEF also worked with partners to activate Blue Dot hubs — safe spaces that provide information to traveling families and help identify and protect unaccompanied and separated children. Twenty-one Blue Dot centers were established in Romania, Moldovia, Poland, Slovakia and Italy, and have reached more than 70,000 people. The accelerated effort to establish more centers will reach at least 18,500 people, including 7,400 children, per day.
“The AAP’s and UNICEF’s goals are one in the same: to protect children’s health and futures,” said UNICEF donor Claudia S. Zavala, M.D., FAAP. “UNICEF has been doing this work throughout the world in the most difficult of situations and already making a difference for the children of Ukraine and their families.”
The ability to help address the needs of children in crisis is further strengthened with support of the AAP Disaster Recovery Fund. Having resources in-hand allows the AAP to respond in the recovery process for children, families and the pediatric professionals who care for them.
Resources
- For more information on how to support child health through charitable gifts to the AAP, contact Harry Bauer at 630-626-6101 or [email protected] or visit https://www.aap.org/en/philanthropy/.
- To donate to the AAP’s fundraiser for UNICEF’s emergency work to help the children of Ukraine, visit https://unicefusa.donorsupport.co/-/NPBSNMLJ.
