NEW YORK, July 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Here's a real sunshine story! Started June
1, 2009, for every SUNNAN solar-powered lamp sold in IKEA stores worldwide,
one lamp will be given to UNICEF to light up the life of a child.
The first shipments are destined for Pakistan, helping children in camps for
people who had to flee their homes, and remote villages in Balochistan and the
North West Frontier province.
IKEA has made an especially sturdy SUNNAN for the developing world, designed
to resist the wear and tear of difficult living situations, including a
battery capable of withstanding high temperatures.
"IKEA has presented the public with an opportunity to help UNICEF give
children in the developing world a brighter future, including those caught in
crises," said Caryl Stern, President and CEO, U.S. Fund for UNICEF. "IKEA and
its Social Initiative exemplify what a committed corporate partner looks like.
The Sunnan Lamp is one in a long-line of thoughtful projects that IKEA has
taken on in support of UNICEF's work to save and improve the lives of children
worldwide."
This unit will enable children to play, read, write and study at night, even
if their homes have no electricity.
"Millions of children can't draw, write or read after sunset, limiting their
horizons and possibly their futures," said Marianne Barner, head of IKEA
Social Initiative. "We hope our lamps are a small but important contribution
to improving the lives of children in developing countries."
"Especially girls are often required to help out with household chores after
school, and their only chance of doing their homework may be at night," Barner
added. "SUNNAN can make a huge difference to them. If they can keep up with
the homework, their school attendance will likely increase and their
achievements improve."
Priced at only $19.99, SUNNAN comes in five bright colors and is available in
an IKEA store near you. SUNNAN work lamp combines low-energy LED technology
with solar panels. Just charge the panel for 9-12 hours in the sun and get
four hours of full light!
About the IKEA Social Initiative
The IKEA Social Initiative, established in 2005, manages IKEA's social
involvement on a global level. The mission is to improve the rights and life
opportunities of the many children. The main partners are the two leading
global child right organizations; UNICEF and Save the Children. IKEA Social
Initiative invests in a range of programs with a holistic approach, aiming to
create substantial and lasting results.
About IKEA
IKEA places great value on life at home. A comforting spot where family and
friends gather, where children learn and grow. Since its 1943 founding in
Sweden, IKEA has offered home furnishings and accessories of good design and
functional living solutions at prices so low that the majority of the people
can afford them. Currently there are more than 285 IKEA stores in 36
countries, including 48 in North America (11 in Canada; 37 in the US). IKEA
has been named to BusinessWeek's List of The Best Global Brands (August 7,
2006) and for four consecutive years, Working Mother magazine's annual list of
the "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers." IKEA was listed in March 2007,
on Fast Company's Fast 50, for its environmentally responsible products, as
well as five consecutive years, Training magazine's annual list of top
companies that excel at human capital development. IKEA incorporates
environmentally friendly efforts into day-to-day business and continuously
supports social initiatives that benefit causes such as children and the
environment including UNICEF, Save the Children and American Forests. To
visit the IKEA Web site, please go to www.IKEA-usa.com.
About UNICEF
UNICEF has saved more children's lives than any other humanitarian
organization in the world. Working in over 150 countries, UNICEF provides
children with health care, clean water, nutrition, education, emergency
relief, and more. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF's work through
fundraising, advocacy, and education in the United States.
Despite extraordinary progress, 25,000 children still die each day from
preventable causes. Our mission is to do whatever it takes to make that number
zero by giving children the essentials for a safe and healthy childhood. For
more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.
SOURCE IKEA Social Initiative
Mona Astra Liss of IKEA US Corporate PR, +1-610-834-0180, ext. 5852, or
sslm@memo.ikea.com; Lauren Monahan of U.S. Fund for UNICEF, +1-212-880-9136,
or lmonahan@unicefusa.org
