Aiming High: Shooting for ZERO

Goal of ZERO
10/29/09 at 4:37:20 PM

—Pat Amo, Academic Adviser
McGuire Academic Program

Last month we briefly mentioned our 4th annual MAP Halloween party. The McGuire Academic Program strongly believes that by helping others, we help ourselves—not just because it's good for our spirit, but because giving yields tangible, physical benefits. Along with academic rigor, community engagement has been a cornerstone of the program since fall of 2006. We know that during tough times, when it seems the hardest to give, that's when the need is the greatest.

Last year MAP students collected food for local food shelves and, keeping with our local focus, volunteered at several agencies in the Metro area. This year the students voted to go global and McGuire students are joining UNICEF's Next Generation. The Next Generation Steering Committee, consisting of 30 young professionals from diverse industries all with amazing passion and dedication for UNICEF presented us with a unique and innovative opportunity to become involved globally and help do our part in doing whatever it takes to save children's lives. We are engaged in supporting the world's children and we recognize that it will take not only financial resources to reduce the number of daily preventable deaths of children (currently 24,000 per day) to zero—but it will also take education, engagement, and advocacy.

The damaging effects of micronutrient deficiency are well-known. It blunts a child's intellect and undermines his or her prospects not just at school but in life as a whole. The money raised by MAP will go directly to "Project Sprinkles." Sprinkles is a nutritional supplement that comes in the form of a powder that is designed to be sprinkled over food, instantly fortifying the meal with iron, vitamin A, zinc, vitamin C, and folic acid. For only $3.50, UNICEF can provide a packet a day for a child for a year. And that's enough to make sure that the child is properly nourished.

Next Generation believes that the number of deaths can be reduced to ZERO. The McGuire Academic Program students and staff are going to help make it possible.

You're invited!

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