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UNICEF launches new e-greetings service

© UNICEF

UNICEF worked with a team of international artists to create the e-greetings.

By Rachel Bonham Carter

NEW YORK, 2 December 2005 – UNICEF has launched a new service offering electronic greetings from the website www.unicefshop.org. For the first time, private individuals and business users living in eight countries around the world can send a ‘card’ via the internet while making a donation to UNICEF causes.

“The sale of greeting cards was the foundation of UNICEF fundraising in the 1950s,” said project leader Roger Keczkes. “It is exciting to be able to complement the paper cards with this electronic service.”

Mr. Keczkes’ team and UNICEF’s Director of Sales Giuseppe Fusco have been working on the e-greetings project for over a year.

“It was very challenging,” said Mr. Keczkes, “because we’ve had to set up a business from scratch and create a completely new way for UNICEF to do business.” He added that this was the first time for UNICEF to offer an integrated online service and fundraising portal, connecting eight different country websites.

The service is currently available for residents of Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. Funds from the purchase of the e-greetings will be used by UNICEF to improve the lives of children around the world.

© UNICEF

UNICEF is the first non-profit organization to provide a facility for business users and individuals to send e-greetings.

Designs and appeal

The e-greetings are available in a wide variety of designs with accompanying music, appropriate for many different occasions from Christmas and birthdays to corporate greetings, or simply to say, ‘I’m thinking of you’.

Users can choose any of the animated images and personalize them with a message to friends, family or customers. Each ‘card’ has a low minimum cost for every recipient (£1 for senders in the UK, $1.50 for Canadians, or €1.50 for senders in continental Europe). A user is given an option during purchase to specify a larger amount for donation to UNICEF. 

UNICEF web programmer Ana Milicevic, who worked on the e-greetings project, said the cards have a dual appeal. “The nice thing is that while you’re surprising one of your friends or a work colleague with an e-greeting, you’re also giving something to make a difference for children.”

Options for expanding the availability of the e-greetings to residents of other countries will be explored in the New Year, once the project’s success over the holiday season is assessed.

Eric Mullerbeck contributed to this story.