While many people remember trick-or-treating for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), most lose touch with the nonprofit after their years of candy collecting are over.
That may soon change. UNICEF is reaching out to Minnesotans, more specifically grown-ups. The organization recently made a Twin Cities launch with an event at the Minneapolis Club featuring a preview of "The Carrier," a documentary by Maggie Betts. The narrative follows a Zambian woman's quest to protect her fetus from contracting HIV from her.
One reason why UNICEF has come to the Twin Cities is because of Tamrah Schaller O'Neill of Minneapolis, the only local board member of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF Midwest. She became involved while adopting kids from Guatemala and Ethiopia.
"We are a global family," she said.
The organization is devoted to helping governments improve the health and education of children and their mothers. According to UNICEF, 21,000 children die every day from preventable causes.
"I don't take it for granted that we have water and we have nutrition," O'Neill said. "I can't imagine being a parent and having to worry about that."
Sara Glassman • 612-673-7177
