Broadway Kids Care Join Rihanna and Ne-Yo at UNICEF Lighting Ceremony

Broadway Kids Care (BKC), the organization of theater kids for kids (and others), will perform festive holiday songs at the 2008 UNICEF Snowflake lighting ceremony today (Wednesday, November 19) at the Grand Army Plaza in New York City. This year's event will also feature an appearance by Grammy Award-winning artist Rihanna, who will flip the switch to illuminate the magnificent UNICEF Snowflake, signifying the beginning of the gift-giving season across the globe. Grammy Award-winner Ne-Yo will also perform.

Also attending the UNICEF Snowflake lighting as a special guest will be Sesame Street Muppet and UNICEF's global "Champion for Children" Kami. Kami is a five-year old, HIV-positive Muppet who appears regularly on the South African co-production of Sesame Street called Takalani Sesame where she teaches children valuable lessons about literacy, numeracy, respect and understanding. In her role as "Champion for Children," Kami helps promote age-appropriate messages concerning HIV/AIDS. Caryl Stern, President and Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF and Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini will also take part in the ceremony.

The UNICEF Snowflake, donated by the Stonbely family, has become an iconic fixture in New York City during the holiday season. It was handcrafted by German lighting designer Ingo Maurer and is adorned with 16,000 Baccarat crystal prisms. At 23 feet in diameter, over 28 feet in height and weighing 3,300 pounds, the UNICEF Snowflake is the largest outdoor chandelier of its kind. The UNICEF Snowflake will be illuminated for the entire holiday season.

For more than 60 years, UNICEF has been the world's leading international children's organization, working in over 150 countries to address the ongoing issues that affect why kids are dying. UNICEF provides lifesaving nutrition, clean water, education, protection and emergency response saving more young lives than any other humanitarian organization in the world. While millions of children die every year of preventable causes like dehydration, upper respiratory infections and measles, UNICEF, with the support of partnering organizations and donors alike, has the global experience, resources and reach to give children the best hope of survival. For more information about UNICEF, please visit www.unicefusa.org.

Broadway Kids Care was founded in 2007 by Kelly Gonda, President of East of Doheny as a way to bring together children from current and past Broadway shows while allowing them the opportunity to perform community service. During its brief history, BKC's members have participated in a variety of charitable works. They initially got involved with UNICEF when they raised money for the UNICEF/ Pampers One Pack=One Vaccine Program. Other projects include creating Halloween and Easter baskets for the children of Freedom House NYC, knitting scarves for the residents at the Lillian Booth Actor's Home, making peace/friendship bracelets for the troops in Iraq and creating hats for children undergoing chemotherapy at the Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital, among other projects.

BKC's dream is to become a nationwide organization, and ultimately, a global one. For more information about Broadway Kids Care, visit their website at www.bwaykidscare.com.

Photo by Linda Lenzi