Club President Sharanya Maddukuri (11) tells us about her background with Independence’s UNICEF club as well as this year’s Halloween fundraiser. Sharanya joined UNICEF as a freshman in 2020. They were online at the time, but they still had a restaurant fundraiser at Panera. She got the position of Vice President of Fundraising/er Outreach and would make promotional material for any events. After going back in person in 2021, the club was finally able to host fundraisers in school.

“Our most notable one was the Hot Chocolate Fundraiser, which many students liked”, she said.

As a VP of Fundraising/er Outreach for two years, she promoted the club and helped it grow. In June 2022, she was promoted to president of Indy UNICEF and immediately started planning and working to truly understand the goals and purpose of the agency.

“That purpose is to raise funds in order to help children in need around the world by getting them equal access to medical care, shelter and education”, she tells us.

Indy UNICEf has expanded to over 60+ club members and holds monthly chapter meetings. It was during one of those meetings that the club planned the Trick-or-Treat fundraiser, in which volunteers sell candy for change. All proceeds go to UNICEF and their Fund dedicated to the wellness of children all over the world. 88.4% of every dollar donated to UNICEF goes directly to providing health care, immunizations, safe water, emergency relief, and more to children in over 190 countries.

Open during lunch blocks near vending machines, front office, library or cafeteria, the candy cart is collecting cash donations on October 12, 19, 26, 27 and 28.

The club’s Instagram page (@indy.unicef) qualified October 19 as a successful day for the fundraiser.