Haiti Still Needs You

It’s been several months since the tragic earthquake, and Haiti still needs our help. Particularly the children, who have lost their parents and their homes and are now facing more danger as a result of hurricane season. Haiti is still a very long way from getting back on their feet and they need help rebuilding not just their country, but also their lives.

Here's an excerpt of what Caryl Stern, President and CEO of US Fund for UNICEF, wrote to me:

Dear Annie,

They lost their mothers and fathers. Their schools were destroyed. Now countless children languish in over-crowded, disease-prone camps.

Haiti's children still need your help. And with the hurricane season ahead, they now face increased risk of disease.

These child survivors represent an entire generation of Haitians. Their future is literally in your hands.

Donate before June 30th and you will be ensuring that UNICEF's efforts in Haiti continue. Here are the projects you will be funding:

* Nutrition supplies for 495,000 children and 200,000 pregnant or breast-feeding women;
* Millions of gallons of potable water;
* School-in-a-box kits and tents to serve as temporary classrooms;
* 8 new garbage disposal sites to serve 5 million people while sanitation facilities are rebuilt; and
* Additional field staff on border points where children are at risk of trafficking.

Reconstruction in Haiti means nothing if these children don't make it. This is a massive undertaking. It will take an unprecedented level of support. But failure to act now only sentences Haiti's children to more suffering.

More than ever, Haiti depends on external aid. After years of political strife and consecutive hurricanes, the January 12 earthquake plunged Haiti into one of the worst humanitarian crises the world has seen.

Please, help give them a brighter, more secure future.

With much gratitude,

Caryl M. Stern
President & CEO
U.S. Fund for UNICEF

No Slippy Hair Clippy has pledged a portion of our sales to UNICEF. This plea reminds us to continue our support. I hope it has reminded you as well.

Visit UNICEF's website for more information on how you can help.

An Update from UNICEF

I feel blessed to have received another email from Alisa Aydin of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF with updates about their efforts. It has been an honor for No Slippy Hair Clippy to work hand-in-hand with UNICEF. With our pledge to donate a part of our online sales to them, we consider it a blessing to be given the chance to help Haiti.


But now another tragedy has struck with the massive earthquake in Chile. Even with their ongoing relief efforts in Haiti, UNICEF is already on standby to extend a helping hand once again. And they can be sure that No Slippy Hair Clippy will continue to support them.

I would like to share Alisa's letter with you:

Dear Annie,

After a massive earthquake hit Chile this past weekend, UNICEF is standing ready to provide support even while continuing to push forward with ongoing relief efforts in Haiti.

As the rainy season approaches, UNICEF is working against the clock in Haiti to prevent disease outbreak by increasing the number of latrines available in the camps for those displaced by the January quake. That work is in addition to an ongoing major immunization campaign that will eventually vaccinate 500,000 people.

This month UNICEF will also be setting up hundreds of temporary schools. These classrooms provide a safe haven for children who have endured unimaginable hardship.

Show these children you stand with them by adding your photo to UNICEF's "I Stand with Haiti" petition. Photos will be included in an upcoming aid shipment. Finally, World Water Day is March 22.

Participating in the UNICEF Tap Project is the perfect way to mark that day and ensure that children around the world have access to clean, safe water.

Alisa Aydin
U.S. Fund for UNICEF

If you would like to offer your support as well, you may visit http://unicefusa.org.

You may also visit our website, http://hairclippy.com to take part in our Hairclips for Haiti and shop for a cause. Proceeds from online sales will be donated to UNICEF and Save the Children.

Haiti: 30 Days Later

It has been over a month since the tragic devastation in Haiti. But even as news coverage have started to dwindle, there is still so much work to be done, still so many who need help. About 40% of Haiti's population is below the age of 14. So I can only imagine how truly helpless they must be feeling and how much they must be suffering. Which is why I admire our friends at UNICEF, who have been working round the clock ever since the earthquake struck until now, 30 days later.


An article on UNICEF's website says: "The sobering truth is that in the wake of a calamity as devastating as last month’s earthquake, it is usually weeks or months after the initial crisis—and after most of the news crews have left—that some of the hardest work begins."

Truly, how inspiring it is that organizations like UNICEF are dedicatedly hard at work. I feel blessed to have recently received an email from Alisa Aydin of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, thanking No Slippy Hair Clippy for the support and updating me on the work that is being done in Haiti.

I am happy to note that they have launched their immunization campaign last week, in partnership with the Haitian government and the World Health Organization. They aim to vaccinate 500,000 children from measles, diphtheria, rubella and whooping cough. They have also been distributing clean water to 800,000 people on a daily basis, developing therapeutic feeding programs, and working to find and protect unaccompanied children.

But they are not stopping at Haiti. Through UNICEF's Humanitarian Action Report, I found out that they are currently addressing the needs of children in 27 countries in crisis in addition to Haiti.

I salute UNICEF’s unwavering commitment to help those who have suffered from disaster. But for them to be able to continue their work in Haiti for months and even years to come, they will need continued support. As they said on their website, "We all must keep Haiti in our thoughts, even if it’s not on our TV screens."

As a human being, I feel so thankful for the opportunity to help my fellow man/woman. If you would like to extend aid as well, please do consider supporting UNICEF's continuing efforts. You may visit www.unicefusa.org/haitiquake.

Photo courtesy of UNICEF United States Fund.

Hairclips for Haiti

Maybe it’s because I’m a native Californian and earthquakes have been in my life since I was a small child. I clearly remember the ‘71 quake in LA like it was yesterday! I was rocked out of my bunk bed, running outside with my brother Mike, watching ripples going down the middle of the street. Those were the “bumps” hitting our homes and rocking us around! It was scary, but no damage, just a pure adrenaline rush.

After last week's massive earthquake in Haiti, and seeing the destruction, turmoil and helpless people, I wanted to do something. I unfortunately don’t own a checkbook that could make a difference at this time, so I got to thinking while on the plane down to Los Angeles, getting ready for the Boom Boom Room celebrity gifting suite. What a perfect vehicle to begin a fundraiser!

So on Friday and Saturday, January 15th and 16th, I created my plan, to help those in need in Haiti, and to donate proceeds of purchases made from No Slippy Hair Clippy to UNICEF and Save the Children charities. I asked every celebrity we met for their email address so that I could send them a link for this effort. I stressed that I wanted them to share this link with all their friends who have girls, and would want to make a meaningful purchase. The email list looks decent, and I’m now planning the details to send out the link this week.

Most importantly, it’s not about how much we can raise for Haiti, (because I’m simply not sure what this email fundraiser will bring), but it’s the idea that we’re doing something, even a small gesture, to make a difference. I’m a true believer that if everyone makes small contributions, the sum can be worthwhile. We’re small by ourselves, but giants when we unite.

If you would like to join us, please visit hairclippy.com. Each purchase will extend much-needed help for Haiti. You may also visit UNICEF or Save the Children to make donations.

Image from www.sxc.hu.

HELP FOR HAITI

"Hope is grief's best music." (author unknown)

The devastation in Haiti reminds us of human frailty. But more importantly, how this frailty turns to great strength when we extend a helping hand and lift each other up.

In the hope of somehow reaching out to the victims of the earthquake, we invite you to join us as we do our share in aiding our brothers and sisters in Haiti. We will be donating a portion of our sales to UNICEF to help in Haiti relief efforts. If you'd like to take part, please visit our website. Every purchase at No Slippy Hair Clippy can do so much in extending a little help.

Truly, in this time of anguish, it is incredible to see people from all walks of life coming together. UNICEF itself is overwhelmed by staggering support they have received, mostly through social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. And just like they said in UNICEF's website, "We're in this together."

So let's make a difference together and let's give Haiti the gift of hope that can help them back on their feet. For more information on UNICEF's relief efforts, you can visit their site here.

And help us spread the word thru Twitter and Facebook!

Image from fieldnotes.unicef.org.