Fishburne Military School Key Club Announces Fight Against MNT
Fishburne Key Club Officers are sworn in for 2012-2013
The Kiwanis Club of Fishburne Military School is joining forces with Kiwanis members across the globe in an effort to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT), a painful disease that kills one baby every nine minutes, or 160 newborns each day. The Eliminate Project: Kiwanis eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus is a global campaign that will save and protect the lives of millions of mothers and their future babies. The disease is typically contracted through unhygienic childbirth practices. The goal of the project is to eliminate this swift, painful and highly preventable disease by vaccinating women of childbearing age, which will not only protect the mothers, but also their future babies.
FMS Key Club members pack food boxes for needy families
“Our Cadets are so very proud to raising funds for and awareness of this tragically preventable disease,” said Mrs. Debbie Todd, FMS’ Key Club sponsor. “By using their talents to raise funds through concession sales, these young men are really doing their best to make an impact.” First chartered in 1958, the Fishburne Military School Key Club participates in numerous charitable and outreach programs throughout the year. From volunteering to man tables at Waynesboro’s Kite Day, to Christmastime bell-ringing for The Salvation Army and stuffing food boxes for the needy during the winter, the club is widely recognized throughout the area as a force for positive change.
As the world’s largest single donor, Kiwanis International is raising US$110 million by 2015 for the project, which will ultimately protect at least 61 million women and their future babies who are at risk of this deadly disease. To do their part, Fishburne’s Key Club will be selling candy and snacks all home sporting events throughout the school year. The funding supports UNICEF and its partners who have already eliminated MNT in 20 countries. With Kiwanis’ global volunteer network, along with UNICEF’s field staff and technical expertise, The Eliminate Project will serve those who live in developing countries where healthcare is limited—and wipe out this cruel, centuries-old disease.
“For US$1.80 we can protect a mother and her future babies from this deadly but preventable disease,” said Stan Soderstrom, Executive Director of Kiwanis International. “We can only do this with the support from our local clubs, and with their participation, we will eliminate MNT.” The Eliminate Project will do more than protect women and babies from tetanus; it also will help create a path for other services, such as clean water, nutrition and other vaccines, to reach the world’s most vulnerable people who are not served because they are poor, remote and, in some cases, invisible to the world. For more information about The Eliminate Project, please visit www.TheEliminateProject.org.
About The Eliminate Project: The Kiwanis International global campaign for children, The Eliminate Project: Kiwanis eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus (MNT), aims to save and protect millions of mothers and their future babies. In partnership with UNICEF, Kiwanis is eliminating MNT, a disease that kills one baby every nine minutes, by vaccinating women of child-bearing age. UNICEF and its partners have already eliminated MNT in 20 countries, and Kiwanis’ pledge to raise US$110 million will help fund the elimination of the disease in the 38 countries that remain at risk. Kiwanis’ global volunteer network and strength in reaching communities and leaders, along with UNICEF’s field staff, technical expertise and unbeatable supply chain will help wipe out this cruel, centuries-old disease and pave the way for other interventions.
About Kiwanis: Founded in 1915, Kiwanis International is a global organization of clubs and members dedicated to serving the children of the world. Kiwanis and its family of clubs, including Circle K International for university students, Key Club for students age 14–18, Builders Club for students age 11–14, Kiwanis Kids for students age 6–12 and Aktion Club for adults living with disabilities, dedicate annually more than 18 million service hours to strengthen communities and serve children. The Kiwanis International family comprises nearly 600,000 adult and youth members in 80 countries and geographic areas. For more information about Kiwanis International, please visit www.kiwanis.org.
About UNICEF: UNICEF has saved more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization in the world. Working in more than 150 countries, UNICEF provides children with health care, clean water, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF’s work through fundraising, advocacy and education in the United States. UNICEF is at the forefront of efforts to reduce child mortality worldwide. There has been substantial progress: the annual number of under-five deaths dropped from 13 million in 1990 to 8.1 million in 2009. But still, 22,000 children die each day from preventable causes. UNICEF’s mission is to do whatever it takes to make that number zero by giving children the essentials for a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.
