Gucci donates $1.15 million to UNICEF Charity

Jennifer Lopez and Frida Giannini at the Inaugural UNICEF Women of Compassion Luncheon

Gucci strengthens its partnership with UNICEF by announcing USD 1.15 million donation to UNICEF's 'Schools for Africa' initiative in the name of its children's collection. Gucci's creative director Frida Giannini elaborates, 'Ever since we first worked with UNICEF in 2005, it has been inspiring to lead this partnership and ensure its growth over the years. Now, we are proud to extend Gucci's commitment to UNICEF by making a further $1.15 million contribution to the many children they serve."

What started in 2004 in partnership with the Nelson Mandela Foundation and the Peter Kramer Stiftung, UNICEF's 'Schools for Africa' initiative aims to increase access to quality basic education for millions of children in Africa, focusing on aiding the most disadvantaged - girls, orphans, children living in extreme poverty and other vulnerable children. In their seventh year, Gucci continues to support this initiative; firming believing that education is a gift forever. Driven by a sense of commitment to the world's children, and in the spirit of the company's 'Forever Now' philosophy, Gucci has till date contributed over $10 million to UNICEF and is currently one of the largest corporate donors to 'Schools for Africa'. In 2010, the brand committed $1 million to UNICEF in celebration of the initial launch of its children's collection and through this initiative, they has contributed to UNICEF and partners, reaching more than 5.5 million children in sub-Saharan Africa with improved access to and quality of education.

The brand has also provided for a variety of projects to raise awareness, as well as contribute to the initiative. Since the partnership's beginning, Giannini has created exclusive products from which a percentage of sales support UNICEF. In 2011, a new 'Gucci for UNICEF' Sukey bag was deigned and as in previous years, 25 per cent of the retail price of each bag sold will go to benefit the 'Schools for Africa' initiative. The last year also saw the inauguration of the UNICEF Women of Compassion Luncheon, where the U.S. Fund for UNICEF honored Giannini, along with Carrie Auer, UNICEF Representative in Malawi for their key contributions to UNICEF's mission to save and improve children's lives worldwide.