Governor Quinn Joins Illinois Schoolchildren in Chicago and Springfield to Promote UNICEF this Halloween

CHICAGO – October 31, 2009. Governor Pat Quinn will join with third-graders from the Donald J. Marquez Charter School at the James R. Thompson Center in Chicago and will also welcome hundreds of trick-or-treaters to the Executive Mansion in Springfield this Halloween. Governor Quinn is encouraging Illinois children to help others by participating in the United Nations Children's Fund’s (UNICEF) Trick-or-Treat program.

“Carrying a UNICEF collection box this Halloween while trick-or-treating is a simple way that our children can help less-fortunate children around the world,” said Governor Quinn. “I encourage every child in Illinois to participate in this important program and make a difference this Halloween.”

The program allows children to collect money while trick-or-treating to help UNICEF provide food, water, medicine and education to needy children in more than 150 countries. Treat-or-treaters can pick up a UNICEF collection box at Pier 1 Imports, Hallmark and Baskin-Robbins retail locations around Illinois.

Governor Quinn will host a reception for trick-or-treaters this Halloween at the Executive Mansion in Springfield from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with candy generously provided by Hershey, Mars and Wrigley. Trick-or-treaters who are 12-years-old and younger and accompanied by an adult are encouraged to stop by the mansion.

For more than 60 years, UNICEF has been the world’s leading international children’s organization. The money raised by trick-or-treaters helps to provide clean water, health care, food and education to children in more than 150 countries. Last year alone, kids, schools and communities raised more than $4.4 million. To date, Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF has raised more than $140 million.

For more information please visit http://youth.unicefusa.org/trickortreat.