Product Recycling Fund
The price of this item includes a contribution to a Product recycling fund to ensure that waste electrical and electronic equipment is collected and recycled in a responsible manner.
News room
News categories
BackThank you!
[National]
UNICEF and Save the Children thank IKEA customers for their help raising €12.4 million for children across the world.
IKEA can today reveal that thanks to the hard work of IKEA customers and co-workers up and down the country, a total of €12.4 million has been raised for the annual Soft Toy Campaign beating the target of €12 million by an extra €400,000. The money raised will be donated to UNICEF and Save the Children to support children’s education programmes all over the world.
Teddy bears came out to play in IKEA stores across the UK during November and December, as the annual Soft Toy Campaign saw celebrities, local heroes and customers participating in a variety of money raising teddy bear themed adventures.
At IKEA Wembley celebrity mum Sophie Ellis Bextor took part in a special book reading and teddy bear’s picnic to help launch the campaign and when customers purchased any soft toy, kids meal and children’s book between October 24th and December 23rd, the IKEA Foundation donated €1 to UNICEF and Save The Children helping touch the lives of thousands of children all over the world.
In order to meet this year’s target of €12 million, a second set of activity took place where customers had the chance to be involved in the instore ‘Give Twice’ incentive, helping donate IKEA soft toys to local children’s charities. By purchasing any soft toy in store, IKEA customers were able to donate 9,835 toys and 13,904 books to local charities all over the UK.
The funding from the Soft Toy campaign, managed by the IKEA Foundation has raised a total of €47.5 million since it began in 2003, which has helped improve the lives of more than eight million children in 45 countries. Thanks to this years donation, UNICEF and Save the Children will implement 18 projects in 16 countries: UNICEF’s share will go to Schools for Africa projects in seven countries and two projects in Russia and China; and Save the Children’s share will support education for children of the most marginalised groups (minorities and children with disabilities) in Asia (Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines) and Eastern Europe (Lithuania and Romania).
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.
Tanya Steele, Save the Children’s Director of Fundraising said, “Thank you to IKEA and all their customers who supported the amazing Soft Toy Campaign again this year. To raise €12.4 million is an incredible achievement; it will enable millions of children around the world to enjoy a quality education and have the opportunity to fulfill their potential. We are very proud to partner with an organisation that is so committed to improving the lives of children.”
Julie Weston, Director of Fundraising at UNICEF UK says; “A big thank you to everyone who supported the IKEA Soft Toy Campaign. As the leading children’s organisation, UNICEF will make sure that all money raised will be used to make sure that many more of the world’s most vulnerable children get to go to school. This is so important for every child’s development and is one of the best investments we can make in children. Because of you, this money will help to change their lives forever so thank you.”
“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.
Teddy bears came out to play in IKEA stores across the UK during November and December, as the annual Soft Toy Campaign saw celebrities, local heroes and customers participating in a variety of money raising teddy bear themed adventures.
At IKEA Wembley celebrity mum Sophie Ellis Bextor took part in a special book reading and teddy bear’s picnic to help launch the campaign and when customers purchased any soft toy, kids meal and children’s book between October 24th and December 23rd, the IKEA Foundation donated €1 to UNICEF and Save The Children helping touch the lives of thousands of children all over the world.
In order to meet this year’s target of €12 million, a second set of activity took place where customers had the chance to be involved in the instore ‘Give Twice’ incentive, helping donate IKEA soft toys to local children’s charities. By purchasing any soft toy in store, IKEA customers were able to donate 9,835 toys and 13,904 books to local charities all over the UK.
The funding from the Soft Toy campaign, managed by the IKEA Foundation has raised a total of €47.5 million since it began in 2003, which has helped improve the lives of more than eight million children in 45 countries. Thanks to this years donation, UNICEF and Save the Children will implement 18 projects in 16 countries: UNICEF’s share will go to Schools for Africa projects in seven countries and two projects in Russia and China; and Save the Children’s share will support education for children of the most marginalised groups (minorities and children with disabilities) in Asia (Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines) and Eastern Europe (Lithuania and Romania).
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.
Tanya Steele, Save the Children’s Director of Fundraising said, “Thank you to IKEA and all their customers who supported the amazing Soft Toy Campaign again this year. To raise €12.4 million is an incredible achievement; it will enable millions of children around the world to enjoy a quality education and have the opportunity to fulfill their potential. We are very proud to partner with an organisation that is so committed to improving the lives of children.”
Julie Weston, Director of Fundraising at UNICEF UK says; “A big thank you to everyone who supported the IKEA Soft Toy Campaign. As the leading children’s organisation, UNICEF will make sure that all money raised will be used to make sure that many more of the world’s most vulnerable children get to go to school. This is so important for every child’s development and is one of the best investments we can make in children. Because of you, this money will help to change their lives forever so thank you.”
“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.
100 million.
Estimated number of children the IKEA social projects in partnership with UNICEF, UNDP and Save the Children will have benefited by the end of 2015.
Progress on sustainability
How our business (and your home) got more sustainable in 2012.
