$145,902 Raised in Less Than 7 Days For UNICEF

Clay issued an appeal...could we raise $100,000 in 10 days for the children in Afghanistan. He saw the need, he knew it was a challenge, but he also knows his fans.

And the fans did not disappoint. In week, almost $146,000 has been raised for UNICEF with the help of Clay's fantastic fan base. We blew the top off that thermometer! And by tomorrow, the total will no doubt have climbed even more!

In two different UNICEF Field Notes blogs, posted by Chris Phillips of UNICEF today, he announced the totals as of April 18, first $139,778.60 at 11:04 a.m. and then $145,902.31 at 5:15 p.m.

Chris's first blog is as follows:

Hello, we have some big news and a big number to share this morning. Together we've raised $139,778.60 (as of 11:04 a.m. this morning) for Clay Aiken's 10 Day Challenge for the Children of Afghanistan. Congratulations and thank you for your amazing support of this program!

Clay Aiken's Fieldnotes post from Monday told us about the great need he saw first-hand in Afghanistan. Schools are struggling to provide school supplies to every boy and girl who wants to learn. Your gifts will make a tremendous difference in the lives of these kids.

Today is Day 7 of the challenge. We've got three more days left and we've already exceeded Clay's $100,000 goal. How much more do you think we can raise for the children of Afghanistan in three more days? Post a comment and let us know.

I'll be back with another post tonight to update you on how much we've raised today. If you haven't made a donation to Clay's campaign yet, I hope you'll consider making a donation to help UNICEF provide clean water and education to children in Afghanistan.

Also, I've received some emails from people in Canada asking how they can join in. If you are in Canada and would like to make a gift in support of this campaign, please click here.

Finally, please consider signing up for our eNewsletters if you haven't yet. Our emails are one of the best ways we share the news of UNICEF's work for the world's children.

Posted by Chris Phillips, UNICEF USA on April 18, 2007 11:04 AM | Permalink

Here is the second blog from Chris Phillips showing the higher total:

We've heard from hundreds of you today. Thanks for your comments here on Fieldnotes, your emails, posts on your own sites, and of course your donations. Again, congratulations on exceeding the $100,000 goal.

Want to know what the new total for Clay Aiken's Appeal for the Children of Afghanistan? As of 5:15 p.m. tonight, we're at: $145,902.31 here in the US. We'll post a total from Canada soon too.
LC made a comment this afternoon that stood out to us: "I trust Clay & UNICEF to follow up with us on exactly how the funds are being put to good use." Over the coming weeks and months, we will use the Fieldnotes blog and our eNewsletter to update you on UNICEF's work in Afghanistan.

Tents and hand pumps are two key products UNICEF provides in Afghanistan. We wanted to give you an inside look at how your donations can be put to work helping children in Afghanistan.

• Large tents are used for temporary classrooms and community programs. Each tent costs $700.

• Hand pumps bring clean water to families in Afghanistan. My colleagues in the field in Afghanistan tell us that only 23% of people living in Afghanistan have access to clean water. The Mark II hand pumps UNICEF is providing in Afghanistan, like the one in the picture above, cost about $206.29 each.

Look at it this way: If this campaign raises $200,000, UNICEF could provide 333 tents or 970 water pumps. What a powerful way to make a difference in the lives of thousands of kids in Afghanistan. If you haven't made a donation to Clay's campaign yet, I hope you'll consider helping UNICEF provide clean water and education to children.

Photo: UNICEF/AFGA00001P/ROGER LEMOYNE

Posted by Chris Phillips, UNICEF USA on April 18, 2007 5:15 PM

We still have three more days in the 10-day appeal to send our donations in. If you have not yet donated, or if you'd like to send in a second donation, just go to the UNICEF Afghanistan Donation Page. This money raised is going to make a huge difference in the education and welfare of the children of Afghanistan!