Junior Shelley Piontek said she has always watched the footage and read the headlines in the media about the terrible things happening in other countries and wanted to do something to help.

“I know that people really want to do something about it, but people don’t generally know what to do besides giving their own money,” she said.

Over the summer, Piontek founded a UNICEF organization on campus, one that is part of a campus initiative found in 27 states, to raise awareness and money.

UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund, supports child survival, protection and development worldwide through education, advocacy and fundraising, according to its Web site. Piontek said she thought founding UNICEF was a great way to help the cause.

At the beginning of the semester, she recruited at the Blugold Organizations Bash. She is also an RA, so her and other RAs spread the word in the residence halls. Both of these efforts yielded great responses, she said.

Freshman Tim Lauer decided to join the organization after he saw their display at BOB, a decision he said he is happy with.

“I think it’s definitely a great thing for students to do to get involved with the rest of the world,” Lauer said.

Piontek said there are 18 paid positions filled and two leadership positions still open: the advocacy chair and the web designer.

“It would be really great if we could get maybe 30 or 40 people (next year),” Piontek said, but this semester she just wants to get a few fundraisers going and get the name out.

Rose-Marie Avin, professor of economics, is the organization’s academic advisor, a title she said she is proud to have.

“Members of the organization are trying to make a major difference in the world today,” Avin said. “Members have become advocates for better health, education, equality and security for all children in the world’s poorest countries.”

Avin said she is very pleased with the students’ hard work and commitment to the cause.

Fundraising efforts include selling Community Action Day booklets and “Every Child” rubber bracelets They are also organizing Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF, where kids will carry an orange UNICEF bag while trick-or-treating and ask for donations, Piontek said. All proceeds will go to children in impoverished countries.