On Dec. 11, 1946, the United Nations created the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF). It served as an essential bridge for those children and mothers in need after the devastation of World War II, allowing them to survive while countries built themselves back up.
From its founding through 1950, UNICEF used $112 million in funding to distribute clothes, administer vaccinations, and provide daily nutrition to millions of kids. In 1950, the organization's mandate was expanded to cover all nations, not just WWII participants. In 1953, it was officially rolled into the larger U.N. organization. The name was changed to just the United Nations Children's Fund, but the agency is still better known as UNICEF.
The nongovernmental organization spends its funds and effort in areas that require fewer dollars to achieve big results for disadvantaged children, including by offering medical services like immunizations, funding for health care and educational facilities, and other public health initiatives. Every year it provides vaccinations for an incredible 65 million children, basic education to over 12 million, and treats over 4 million kids for severe malnutrition.
You can find a solid writeup of UNICEF's history and purpose on the website of DevelopmentAid, a global development information firm.
