WIREDGOV

The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) and Crowdfunder have joined forces to launch a new fundraising appeal to support the delivery of nearly 2 billion Covid-19 vaccines around the world.

The new Crowdfunder platform will raise vital funds for UNICEF’s work to secure and supply vaccines to health workers and vulnerable people in more than 180 countries around the world, as part of the global COVAX initiative. It is the biggest health and logistics operation in living history, to ensure no one is left behind.

As the UNICEF UK Crowdfunder appeal goes live, the public is being urged to donate and help those who need it the most. Support for the partnership is already starting to grow across businesses, philanthropists and celebrity supporters who are uniting to help UNICEF deliver history.

This is the first time that Crowdfunder has entered an official partnership to launch a fundraising appeal. As a leading collective fundraising site, Crowdfunder enables supporters to connect directly with campaigns they care about. In this partnership with UNICEF, Crowdfunder will connect supporters who care with the chance to tackle the biggest global crisis since World War Two.

Making sure Covid-19 vaccines are available for all is critical to ending the pandemic and its devastating impact.  UNICEF’s role is critical in making this happen – it is the world’s largest vaccine buyer and already vaccinates almost half the world’s children against preventable diseases.

Steven Waugh, Interim Executive Director, UNICEF UK said: “The partnership between UNICEF UK and Crowdfunder comes at a historic moment for UNICEF in the delivery of Covid-19 vaccines around the world. Crowdfunder’s expertise and unique audience reach will help us unlock vital funding that will enable UNICEF to fulfil its critical mission of protecting the world against Covid-19. I am incredibly excited to launch the Covid-19 vaccination fundraising appeal with Crowdfunder and look forward to working together over the next few months in order to help save lives around the world and deliver history”.

Rob Love, Crowdfunder CEO said: “Crowdfunder is excited to be joining forces with UNICEF UK to support the biggest vaccine drive in history through collective fundraising. UNICEF has an incomparable global network and knowledge on delivering vaccinations, and I’m delighted that Crowdfunder’s first fundraising partnership of this kind is in support of their critical work. I am very happy to be launching this urgent appeal with UNICEF UK and look forward to the work ahead – because we will only ever be safe, when everyone is safe.”

The money raised via Crowdfunder will help UNICEF get vaccines to the most remote places in the world by ensuring they are safely stored and transported, and that health workers are protected and trained to vaccinate their communities.

Help UNICEF and Crowdfunder deliver history by donating at crowdfunder.co.uk/unicef

For more information, please contact:

• Rosie Lloyd, UNICEF UK 0207 375 6222 / RosieL@unicef.org.uk
• UNICEF UK, 0207 375 6030 / media@unicef.org.uk 
• Claire Diamond, Crowdfunder, 077 4805 6063 / Claire.diamond@crowdfunder.co.uk

Notes to editors:

About COVAX

COVAX is the vaccines pillar of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, a ground-breaking global collaboration to accelerate the development, production, and equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines. COVAX is co-led by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance Gavi) and the World Health Organization (WHO) – working in partnership with developed and developing country vaccine manufacturers, UNICEF, the World Bank, and others. It is the only global initiative that is working with governments and manufacturers to ensure COVID-19 vaccines are available worldwide to both higher-income and lower-income countries.

About UNICEF

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.

The UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK) raises funds for UNICEF’s emergency and development work for children. We also promote and protect children’s rights in the UK and internationally. We are a UK charity, entirely funded by supporters.

United Kingdom Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), Registered Charity No. 1072612 (England & Wales), SC043677 (Scotland).

For more information visit unicef.org.uk. Follow UNICEF UK on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube.

About Crowdfunder

Crowdfunder is a leading crowdfunding website and fundraising platform. The Crowdfunder platform connects individuals and organisations to supporters who care, and empowers them to turn their ideas into reality. Crowdfunder can provide specialist fundraising advice and support from expert coaches and enables Crowdfunders to access match-funding opportunities. Over £100 million has been raised by our Crowdfunders to support campaigns for start-ups, charities, social enterprises, communities, businesses, political movements, and individuals.