Press Releases

NEW YORK, December 18, 2002—The U.S. Fund for UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Fund) announced today that Teo Nicolais, Kathi P. Seifert and John O. Utendahl have joined its Board of Directors for an initial two year term. In addition, former President George Bush will join former Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter in serving as an honorary member.

The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF’s work in the United States through education, advocacy and fundraising. Created in 1947, it is the oldest of 37 national committees around the world that support UNICEF's mission. Key priority areas for the organization include girls’ education, immunization against preventable diseases such as tetanus and polio, and the prevention of HIV/AIDS.

"Each of our new directors comes to us with exceptional leadership and experience," said Charles J. Lyons, President of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. "Together, they will help UNICEF forge substantive and lifesaving changes for children."

Teo Nicolais, a freshman at Harvard University, will serve as the Board’s youth representative. Nicolais is the immediate past President of Kiwanis International’s youth division, Key Club International, the world’s largest high school service organization. As President, Nicolais traveled extensively throughout the continental United States, Europe, and Asia to organize and coordinate the efforts of 230,000 students in over 20 countries.

Nicolais founded the Books for Boredom Program promoting literacy by helping to supply Youth Correctional Facilities with libraries. In addition, Nicolais worked extensively with the Kiwanis International Victim’s Children Fund which has raised over $1.5 million to aid children affected by the tragedies of September 11th. For his dedication to community service, he received commendations from the Colorado State Legislature and the prestigious Prudential Spirit of Community Awards Program. Both Kiwanis and Key Club International are long term partners of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF in its campaign to eliminate Iodine Deficiency Disorders.

Kathi P. Seifert is the Executive Vice President for Kimberly-Clark Corporation. Identified by Fortune Magazine as one of the "Most Powerful Women in Business," Seifert is the third highest-ranking professional at Kimberly-Clark, a global consumer products manufacturing company. A Wisconsin native, Seifert oversees the company's $5.7 billion global personal care business, which is home to some of the world's most recognized and trusted consumer brands, including Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend. Seifert is a member of the Board of Directors of Eli Lilly and Company and the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center.

In 2001, the Kimberly-Clark Corporation pledged a gift of $2.6 million over four years to support UNICEF's work on behalf of children orphaned by AIDS. In connection with this donation and as a new member of the Board, Seifert will make a field visit this winter to Malawi where she will witness the living conditions of children who are either running their households or living with extended family due to one or both parents dying from AIDS.

John O. Utendahl serves as Chairman and CEO of Utendahl Capital Partners, the nation’s premier minority-owned investment bank and Utendahl Capital Management, the largest African-American owned fixed income/convertible manager in the United States. Utendahl is also the founder and chairman of UrbanAmerica, a private real estate company, and United Enterprise, a private equity fund.

For his efforts on behalf of children and his commitment to under-served communities, Utendahl received the “Mamie Award” from the Northside Center for Child Development. He has also received the Joseph Papp Racial Harmony Award in recognition of his efforts to promote better relations between African-Americans and Jewish communities. Utendahl serves on the Boards of the Securities Industry Association (SIA) and Big Brothers, Big Sisters. In addition, he is a trustee for Buena Vista University and Long Island University.

The U.S. Fund for UNICEF Board of Directors meets three times a year. Taking into account its newest members, the Board currently has 16 active members; James H. Carey, a retired Executive Vice president of Chase Manhattan Bank, is in his fourth year as Chairman of the Board.