Soft toy promotion at IKEA

This festive season Save the Children, IKEA and UNICEF are teaming up to ask customers in the UK to join them in helping to improve education for thousands of children worldwide.

Wednesday 12 December 2007

Until 24th December 2007, for every IKEA soft toy purchased in its 237 stores worldwide and 15 stores in the UK, IKEA will donate one Euro or £1 in the UK. This money will be split between Save the Children and UNICEF.

Money raised by the soft toy campaign will support Save the Children and UNICEF's vital education work in nine countries; Albania, Bangladesh, China, Côte d'Ivoire, India, Pakistan, Russia, Sierra Leone and Vietnam.

Funds will be used to improve schools by providing reading and writing materials, improving access to water and sanitation facilities, and ensuring that both boys and girls have equal access to a quality education.

Now entering its third year, the campaign has to-date raised over EUR6.9million globally. The 2007 campaign aims to raise a further EUR4million.

"We are proud that IKEA can be a part of giving children access to quality education. Together with our customers, we can make a difference for children that really need it and we hope to reach our goal for four million Euros this year," said Marianne Barner, IKEA Communications Manager and Children's Ombudsman.

"Education is critical to every child's development and well being, yet globally millions of children miss out on this basic right. With IKEA's continued commitment and support, we can ensure that children have the opportunity to learn, to fulfil their potential and to grow into healthy adults," added Andrew Radford, UNICEF UK Deputy Executive Director.

Tanya Steele, Director of Supporter Relations and Fundraising at Save the Children UK, commented, "Save the Children wants every child to have the chance to go to school. Education is vital and brings many benefits to children: protection, stability and the potential to lift themselves, their families and communities out of poverty."

The soft toy campaign will be supported in-store via IKEA's radio station IKEA Live, which will feature specially recorded messages from UNICEF Ambassador Sir Roger Moore, Save the Children supporter Edith Bowman and IKEA supporters Colin and Justin. Peter Corry will be supporting the campaign at the launch of IKEA in Belfast. Films highlighting the work of both UNICEF and Save the Children are to be shown on in-store plasma screens.

The soft toys included in the promotion range in price from 49p to £12.99.

 

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