As United Nations turns 66, Americans Agree the UN is “In Everyone’s Interest”

Today is United Nations Day, a celebration of the 66th anniversary of the founding of the UN, and across the country Americans from all walks of life are working with the United Nations Foundation and its campaigns, showing their support for the UN, and reaffirming that the UN is “In Everyone’s Interest.” More than 120 events hosted by local chapters of the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) are bringing together thousands of people around the country this week (see interactive map for details). Hundreds of thousands more are joining in foundation campaigns and initiatives to help solve pressing global problems.

Timothy E. Wirth, UN Foundation president, said, “As we mark the 66th anniversary of the ratification of the UN Charter, it is clearer than ever that the U.S. needs and wants a strong United Nations with American support to help create a better tomorrow. Bold U.S. leadership on global issues is needed at all levels – by our government and by people like you and me.  With that support, the UN can continue to increase peace and stability, improve global health, expand human rights, respond to natural disasters and crises, combat climate change, and empower women and girls.”

The UN Foundation’s campaigns and programs today highlight American’s support of the UN in a variety of ways:
• A recent survey conducted by Public Opinion Strategies and Hart Research Associates on behalf of the UN Foundation and the Better World Campaign found that more than eight out of ten voters (86%) say it is important that the United States maintain an active role within the United Nations.
• Eighty chapters of the UNA-USA are hosting more than 120 UN Day events around the country.
• Hundreds of thousands of supporters have helped Nothing But Nets, the UN Foundation campaign to save lives by preventing malaria, by donating more than $35 million to send more than 4 million insecticide-treated bed nets to children and families in Africa in partnership with UN agencies.
• Girl Up, the foundation’s campaign that is Uniting Girls to Change the World has garnered more than 200,000 followers who are showing their support for UN programs helping girls in developing countries.
• Shot@Life, a campaign unveiled in September in partnership with UNICEF, the World Health Organization, and other leading organizations working to improve the health of children, and designed to protect children worldwide by providing life-saving vaccines where they are needed most, has gained nearly 55,000 supporters in its first four weeks.

To learn more or take action to help the UN address the world’s most pressing challenges, visit www.unfoundation.org/how-to-help/take-action.

About the United Nations Foundation
The United Nations Foundation, a public charity, was created in 1998 with entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner’s historic $1 billion gift to support UN causes and activities.  The UN Foundation builds and implements public/private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and works to broaden support for the UN through advocacy and public outreach.  Through campaigns and partnerships, the organization connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems.  The campaigns reduce child mortality, empower women and girls, create a new energy future, secure peace and human rights, and promote technology innovation to improve health outcomes.  These solutions are helping the UN advance the eight global targets known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).  For more information, visit www.unfoundation.org.