The Black Dress Traveler

Holiday Gifts with Heart from UNICEF

I have very clear memories from childhood of collecting money on Halloween for UNICEF. It felt so good to go around with that little cardboard box and raise money for children in need. Well, I may be a tad advanced in years to trick-or-treat for the cause, but I can certainly shop! Children around the world need the vital assistance that UNICEF provides - clean water, food, education, medical attention, and so much more. Shopping UNICEF's holiday gift & cards collection is an easy way to support their important work. Here are four of my favorite finds from this year's collection.

Special edition “Gucci for UNICEF” Boston bag designed by Creative Director Frida Giannini, $1520


Every jetsetter needs a great bag! For the fifth consecutive year, Gucci Creative Director and 2011 UNICEF Woman of Compassion honoree Frida Giannini has designed a special edition “Gucci for UNICEF” Boston handbag. This new version of the signature Boston handbag comes in alabaster micro Guccissima leather. Twenty-five percent of the retail price of each bag sold through May 2013 will benefit UNICEF’s “Schools for Africa” and “Schools for Asia” initiative in Malawi, Mozambique, and China. Over the past two years, the “Gucci for UNICEF” bags have generated more than $2 million for UNICEF. Available in Gucci stores worldwide and on the Gucci website.

Bamboo Scarf
$45

A great scarf is a travel essential - it provides warmth and can take an outfit from drab to fab in an instant! This striking scarf has a design inspired by Asian tapestry and is made of soft, eco-friendly bamboo. Organza bag included.

UNICEF Trunki Carryon
$40

It is never too soon to start preparing the next generation of jetsetters about the importance of packing smartly!
This adorable lightweight, sturdy, carry-on sized suitcase with a UNICEF logo serves as rolling luggage and riding toy for little ones ages 3-6. Made of thick, durable plastic and holds up to 75 pounds.

Emergency School Kit
$94.14


Another great way to make an impact with your gift giving is to opt for a UNICEF Inspired Gift that makes an immediate and dramatic difference in the lives of children. Inspired Gifts include lifesaving items such as therapeutic milk for malnourished children, medical supplies, mosquito nets to keep children safe from Malaria, and many more vital items.  One of my favorites is the Emergency School Kit - it delivers notebooks, pencils, storybooks, and even soccer balls to children who have lost nearly everything to war or natural disaster.  To learn more and to select a lifesaving gift in honor of a loved one this holiday season, visit www.inspiredgifts.org.

I've only scratched the surface of the many wonderful gifts available in the UNICEF Holiday Collection. Jewelry, toys, home decor, ornaments, and those famous holiday cards just a few of the guilt-free shopping options. Click here to view the entire collection.

Give a Gift, Save a Life: Shop UNICEF for Presents that Make a Difference

While many of us fill our luggage with cute dresses and shoes, UNICEF workers travel to 190 countries with supplies that can save the lives of children. Let's face it, from Haiti to Pakistan, when disaster strikes it is often women and children that suffer the most. Since 1946 UNICEF has been committed to helping children overcome not only the impact of natural disasters but also the obstacles that result from poverty, violence, disease and discrimination.

There is never a bad time to support such an important cause, but the holiday season is the ideal time to give a gift that supports UNICEF's mission - it takes more than compassion to save lives, it takes resources. Recently, I was invited to take an up close look at the UNICEF gift collection, including their famous greeting cards, jewelry, and more. It was hard to whittle the list down, but here are five of my favorite UNICEF gifts.

 

Handmade Nepalese Scarf
$30
This brightly colored scarf is the perfect accent for a little black dress and a great way to stay warm and stylish. Made in Nepal, it is a hand-woven and hand-dyed softly textured blend of cotton and viscose.

Silk Jewelry Travel Roll
$12.99
Keep your baubles organized on the road in this pretty hand-embroidered pouch. Made in India, it has 3 individual pockets to securely hold your trinkets.

What about giving a gift directly to a child in need? Buy a UNICEF inspired gift and dedicate it to a friend. Your friend receives a card and your gift is sent where kids need it most. 

  School-in-a-Box
$256.40
Help UNICEF set up a temporary school for at least 40 children during times of emergency. Supplied in a lockable aluminum box, the kit includes basic school supplies and classroom tools that are vital for helping children continuing their education in the most dire of circumstances.

  Bicycle
$86.25
The gift of a bike helps UNICEF health workers and midwives deliver vital services and supplies to rural communities - talk about traveling for good! 

Winter Child Survival Pack
$81.35
Provide a child with the supplies they most need to survive the next 6 months. This kit includes Micronutrient powders that help a child on the brink of malnutrition get the vitamins and minerals that are most essential for them to grow up healthy, immunizations from measles and polio, and water purification tablets.

 To learn more, visit www.unicefusa.org.