IKEA Soft Toys for Education Campaign Raises $16.2 Million* (€12.4 Million) for UNICEF and Save the Children

IKEA customers, co-workers receive thanks from UNICEF and Save the Children for Notable Donation Raised During Holiday Season Soft Toy Campaign

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa.--(EON: Enhanced Online News)--IKEA customers and co-workers have partnered with the IKEA Foundation on a $16.2 million (€12.4) million gift for UNICEF and Save the Children projects to help realise every child's right to a quality education. Thanks to this donation, UNICEF and Save the Children will implement 18 projects in 16 countries. UNICEF’s share will go to the Schools for Africa projects in seven countries and two projects in Russia and China. Save the Children’s equal share will support education for children in some of the most marginalized groups (minorities and children with disabilities) in Asia (Bangladesh, China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines) and Eastern Europe (Lithuania and Romania).

In the US, IKEA raised over $1 Million through sales of soft toys. The campaign began with a Day of Donation in which IKEA US stores contributed hundreds of IKEA soft toys and children’s books to the Toys for Tots program in local IKEA store markets.

The IKEA Foundation donates 1 euro ($1.30) for each of the 12.4 million soft toys, children's books and children’s meals sold in over 300 IKEA stores worldwide from November 1 to December 31 (in China, through January 2012). Since 2003, the annual Soft Toy campaign has generated $61.75 million (€47.5 million) in donations, helping eight million children in close to 40 countries have a quality education.

The donations will help UNICEF and Save the Children train teachers in child-friendly teaching methods, supply educational materials like pencils, books, bags, rebuild schools and provide better water and toilet facilities, and increase school attendance rates.

“Our appreciation and gratitude go to IKEA co-workers and customers worldwide for making the 2011 Soft Toys for Education campaign such a success. Thanks to you, 5.5 million children in Africa will receive a better education. For more than ten years the IKEA Foundation has promoted children’s rights by supporting UNICEF’s work and the results achieved for children make us very proud of this partnership," said Leila Pakkala, UNICEF Director of Private Fundraising and Partnerships.

“The innovative IKEA Soft Toy campaign continues to show astounding results year by year, making it the most strategic global cause-marketing campaign for children in the world today. The beauty of the campaign is that it not only benefits children all over the world by giving them the opportunity to go to school, it also raises awareness amongst children and grown-ups about some of the challenging situations children are faced with today. I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to IKEA customers and co-workers at IKEA stores around the world, who have contributed to the phenomenal success of the 2011 Soft Toy campaign,” said Elisabeth Dahlin, Chairman, Lead Agency for the IKEA Foundation Collaboration and Secretary General, Save the Children Sweden.

About IKEA:

IKEA strives to be ‘The Life Improvement Store,’ and since its 1943 founding in Sweden, has offered home furnishings of good design and function, at low prices so the majority of people can afford them. There are currently more than 320 IKEA stores in 38 countries, including 38 in the U.S. IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings company, incorporates sustainable efforts into day-to-day business and supports initiatives that benefit children and the environment. For more information, go to IKEA-USA.com.

About IKEA Foundation:

The IKEA Foundation aims to improve the opportunities for children and youth by funding holistic, long-term programs that can create substantial, lasting change, and enable them to take charge of their own future. The IKEA Foundation works with strong strategic partners applying innovative approaches to achieve large-scale results in four fundamental areas of a child's life: home, health, education and family income. Currently funded programmes benefit an estimated 100 million children. Learn more at www.ikeafoundation.org.

*€1 equals approximately $1.30 US