Grammy Award Winning Multi-Platinum Artist Rihanna to Appear as Special Guest at UNICEF's 2008 Snowflake Lighting Ceremony in NYC

Grammy Award Winning Multi-Platinum Artist Rihanna to Appear as Special Guest at UNICEF's 2008 Snowflake Lighting Ceremony in NYC

Ceremony to also feature performance by Grammy Award winner Ne-Yo

NEW YORK, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Fund for UNICEF announced that Rihanna will appear as a special guest during the UNICEF Snowflake lighting ceremony on Wednesday, November 19 at the Grand Army Plaza in New York City. A strong supporter of UNICEF, Rihanna is a multi-platinum MTV VMA, Grammy, and American Music Award winning artist who joins UNICEF's fight to save children worldwide and roll back the number of children dying from preventable causes from 25,000 to zero. As the organization that has saved more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization, UNICEF is committed to doing whatever it takes to achieve the goal of zero preventable deaths.

"We are thrilled to have Rihanna take part in the lighting ceremony in New York City," says Caryl Stern, President and Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. "She has tremendous enthusiasm for helping those in need and is the ideal person for spreading the UNICEF Snowflake's message of hope, peace, and compassion for children around the world."

Joining Rihanna and Caryl Stern at the ceremony will be Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini. Giannini has designed a unique collection of products specifically for the fourth annual Gucci Holiday Campaign to Benefit UNICEF, which launches the same night. For this year's initiative, she created a special version of the white TATTOO HEART COLLECTION featuring a stylized heart tattoo along with the iconic Gucci symbols on a wide range of accessories. Continuing her devotion to UNICEF, Rihanna will star in the first ever advertising campaign dedicated to the Campaign to Benefit UNICEF. Ads will be unveiled in December magazines.

After Rihanna flips the switch to illuminate the magnificent UNICEF Snowflake, signifying the beginning of the gift-giving season across the globe, the celebration continues, as onlookers will be treated to a live performance by Grammy award winning singer-songwriter Ne-Yo. Ne-Yo's latest album Year of the Gentleman debuted in September of this year and has yielded such smash hits as "Closer" and "Miss Independent."

In addition to Rihanna's special appearance and Ne-Yo's performance, guests will enjoy festive holiday music from Broadway Kids Care, a group of children from current and past Broadway shows who come together to participate in a variety of charitable works.

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.

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.

About UNICEF

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.

Source: The U.S. Fund for UNICEF

CONTACT: Katherine White, Paul Wilmot Communications, +1-212-206-7447
ext. 30, kwhite@greatpress.com, or Marci Greenberg, UNICEF, +1-212-922-2464,
MGreenberg@unicefusa.org

Web Site: http://www.unicefusa.org/

-------
Profile: intent