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Summary: IKEA, Save the Children and UNICEF are asking customers in the UK to join them to help support thousands of children around the world this festive season. An exciting new global fundraising campaign was announced today by IKEA as part of its ongoing commitment to helping vulnerable children worldwide. The campaign will benefit the work of the two leading international children’s organisations - the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Save the Children. Between 19 November and 24 December 2005 two hundred and twenty IKEA stores in 33 countries, including 13 here in the UK, will donate 70p from the sale of each soft toy to support UNICEF and Save the Children’s work with children living in difficult circumstances. A long-term supporter of UNICEF and Save the Children, this is the first time that IKEA has launched a joint global fundraising campaign with the two organisations to maximise the benefits to children across three continents. The money raised will support UNICEF’s vital work to ensure children receive adequate health and education resources and protection in Africa, Europe and Asia. Save the Children will use the valuable funds for its child protection and education work with children in specific regions of Africa and Europe. For example 70p will provide one child with a polio vaccination or will provide ten children with a pen and exercise book. "70p is a small fortune for children in so many countries of the world today," said Marianne Barner, Communications Manager and Children’s Ombudsman at IKEA International. "IKEA is very glad to offer our customers not just a great range of soft toys, but an opportunity to support the valuable work of Save the Children and UNICEF. Jasmine Whitbread, Chief Executive, Save the Children said: "Save the Children and IKEA have been working collaboratively now for over three years to raise vital funds for the world’s most vulnerable children. This Christmas IKEA customers have the opportunity to make a real difference to children’s lives ensuring they have a brighter future." UNICEF is grateful to IKEA for making children issues a priority, and praised the work of Save the Children. "Children deserve to live free of disease and poverty. They have a right to education and protection too. Special partnerships like this one help us to give children the best start in life and grow up to become healthy adults," said Anita Tiessen, Deputy Executive Director for UNICEF UK.