IKEA and UNICEF Lighten Up Children’s Lives In The Developing World

New York, July 21, 2009 — 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