IKEA Foundation receives Thank You Award from World Childhood Foundation

“IKEA and the IKEA Foundation have demonstrated that protecting the most vulnerable members of our society, children, is not only our moral obligation but also good business.” —Her Royal Highness Princess Madeleine of Sweden

World Childhood Foundation USA has announced that the IKEA Foundation is a winner of the Childhood ThankYou Award, in recognition of its groundbreaking partnership with UNHCR and its recent commitment to climate action.

The award will be presented in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden at World Childhood Foundation’s annual gala in New York City.

Every child has the right to a safe and happy childhood, which is why the World Childhood Foundation is fighting the abuse and exploitation of children. The new award was established to recognise the individuals and organisations that are significantly promoting children’s rights worldwide.

The IKEA Foundation is being honoured for its extraordinary efforts and investments to ensure vulnerable children have the opportunity to develop to their full potential. In particular, the World Childhood Foundation pointed to the Better Shelter—an innovative temporary shelter designed for the many families displaced by conflicts and natural disasters—and the IKEA Foundation’s commitment of €400 million through 2020 to support families and communities most impacted by climate change.

Extraordinary commitment and investment

Her Royal Highness Princess Madeleine of Sweden said: “IKEA and the IKEA Foundation have demonstrated that protecting the most vulnerable members of our society, children, is not only our moral obligation but also good business. I hope that more companies will use the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the new Sustainable Development Goals framework as their guiding principles to show that economic growth is not in conflict with social inclusion and environmental sustainability.”

This year’s gala and Childhood ThankYou Award build on the momentum created by the ThankYou campaign, a global initiative launched by Princess Madeleine with the goals of building greater awareness of child abuse and exploitation, and of mobilising support for children in need.

Joanna Rubinstein, President and CEO of World Childhood Foundation USA, said: “IKEA’s extraordinary commitment and investment in children’s rights and environmental sustainability is unprecedented in the corporate sector. Over the last fifteen years, IKEA and the IKEA Foundation have embarked on improving the situation of vulnerable children in the world, showing the way we can help end the abuse, exploitation, trafficking and violence of children. I hope that the Childhood ThankYou Award will inspire other corporate foundations to follow IKEA’s example and step up their efforts to give more children a chance in life.”