On a US national and local level, we work with many charitable organizations in our store markets. Key partnerships we have ongoing programs with include American Forests, Save the Children and UNICEF.
American Forests American Forests works to protect, restore and enhance the natural capital of trees and forests. Healthy forests filter water, remove air pollution, sequester carbon, and provide homes for wildlife. American Forests plants trees to restore areas damaged by wildfire, where critical wildlife habitat has been lost, and to clean our air and water.
IKEA partners with American Forests in the US to plant trees to offset CO2 generated by customer and co-worker transportation to our US stores. Currently the entire 5 cents from the sale of IKEA plastic bags is donated to American Forests to plant trees. Through other customer engagement efforts, including the Plant a Tree program, we have planted more than 725,000 trees. For more information go to www.americanforests.org
Save the Children "IKEA has been a great partner with Save the Children and is a true leader in corporate social responsibility. IKEA is unique. They take a holistic approach to caring about children; from how they do their business, work with their vendors, engage the customer, commit their coworkers and develop cause related marketing.
IKEA continually works closely with our staff to develop, as well as fund, programs that are making life better for impoverished children and families. IKEA has extended this partnership to its customers - giving them opportunities to make real and lasting change for children in need. The success of the holiday soft toy promotion shows that IKEA's customers are eager to make a difference," commented Charles MacCormack, President, Save the Children.
Save the Children is the leading independent organization creating lasting change in the lives of children in need in the United States and around the world. Recognized for their commitment to accountability, innovation and collaboration, their work takes them into the heart of communities, where they help children and families help themselves. In the US, Save the Children ensures that children in need participate in quality literacy, nutrition and physical activity programs. In developing countries, they ensure that children can survive and thrive, and that their families and communities have the resources, and skills to enable them to do so. In emergency and crisis, this organization works for and with children at risk of hunger and malnutrition and those affected by natural disaster, war and conflict.
IKEA US supports Save the Children's efforts globally and in the US. We support global efforts through our annual Soft Toy sales activity. In the US IKEA supports Save the Children's Early Steps to School Success program which provides children and families in rural America with access to quality early learning from birth to age five - the most crucial period in children's cognitive, social and emotional development. These efforts take place primarily in the Home.
Save the Children is the national disaster relief partner for IKEA US, focusing on the unique needs of children during times of natural and man-made disasters. IKEA is commited to providing products for safe play areas and for other needs during disaster situations. For more information, go to www.SavetheChildren.org
UNICEF “IKEA’s successful soft toy campaign follows a long commitment to UNICEF programs for children in the developing world. We appreciate the extraordinary efforts of IKEA coworkers across the country who helped this year’s (2007) soft toy promotion exceed sales expectations, and helping to provide an education for thousands of children around the world.
IKEA has been a valued UNICEF partner since 1988 and is UNICEF’s largest corporate donor thanks to initiatives like the soft toy campaign. We thank IKEA for their valuable support and their commitment to saving and improving the lives of women and children around the world,” commented Caryl M. Stern, President and CEO, US for UNICEF.
For 60 years, UNICEF has been the world's leader for children, working on the ground in 156 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.
UNICEF and IKEA have been global partners since 1998 but the UNICEF and IKEA US partnership is even longer, starting in 1988. IKEA US has sold UNICEF holiday cards for many years, donating 100% of the sales price plus $1 per pack. Since 2004, UNICEF has also received 50% of the donations from the annual holiday IKEA Soft toy campaign,, "1 dollar is a fortune". In 2007, the US sold over 500,000 soft toys. For more information, go to www.unicefusa.org
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