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KINNELON - Local man honored by UNICEF
(by Rebecca Scanlon - News Editor - December 30, 2008)
Kinnelon resident Gary Cohen (left) and actress Lucy Liu received awards from the U.S. Fund for UNICEF at the Snowflake Ball last month.
KINNELON - Gary Cohen's life's work is to put an end to the deaths of children all over the world from preventable causes.
Through his work as an executive vice president at BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company) in Franklin Lakes and with United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Cohen, a borough resident, has made strives to disperse medical technology and policies that will suppress the dissemination of infectious diseases all over the world.
Cohen was recently recognized for his work with an award from UNICEF. He is only the second person to be chosen as a recipient of the Helenka Pantaleoni Award, one of the organization's highest honors. The award is named for the founder of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, of which Cohen currently serves on the board.
"I was surprised when they offered this," Cohen said, adding that the award "reflects a substantial commitment and impact relative to what UNICEF does."
"I wasn't expecting it," he said, but he was honored to be selected for the award because he "believe(s) very deeply" in UNICEF's goals.
Caryl Stern, UNICEF president and chief executive officer, said that Cohen does not just volunteer his time at UNICEF, but he really believes in the organization's principles.
"He's amazing passionate about the world's children," Stern said.
Stern said that Cohen is not only willing to volunteer his time, but also he uses his corporate influence at BD, a global medical technology company.
"BD has played a role ensuring the safety of immunizations," Cohen said.
One of the primary goals the company has been striving for is to curb tetanus, which killed 200,000 newborns and 30,000 mothers in developing countries last year. Cohen has also done a lot of work with the Measles Initiative, which is a partnership led by the American Red Cross, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United Nations Foundation, the World Health Organization and UNICEF.
In addition to his work at BD, Cohen has been a leader at UNICEF and has consulted with United Nations (UN) and U.S. government officials on how these agencies can be most effective in stopping the spread of disease.
Cohen has traveled around the world, witnessing the affects of the infectious diseases and insufficient living conditions he is working to allay, and using his presence to implement change. Stern said that his willingness to visit these developing countries is further proof of his belief in the importance of quashing
"He gets on a plane and goes and sees what's going on," Stern said. "He gives his heart, he gives his wallet, he gives his time."
Upon his return to the U.S., Cohen provides testimony as to the conditions that he witnessed, because once people know, they feel compelled to help, he said.
People can help in a variety of ways, from donating money or time to UNICEF, to becoming mini-ambassadors and making friends, family and co-workers aware of the conditions in other countries, or by pledging to change the life of even one child.
UNICEF believes that no child should ever die from a preventable cause, yet, 25,000 children die from such things every day. The "Believe in Zero" campaign strives to prevent deaths caused by malaria and measles, poisoning by unclean water, lack of safe shelter or malnutrition.
For more information about the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, visit unicefusa.org.
Also at the UNICEF Snowflake Ball, held in New York City on Dec. 3, UNICEF presented actress Lucy Liu with the Danny Kaye Humanitarian Award. Liu, a UNICEF ambassador, has used her influence as a force for the survival, protection and development of women and children, said a spokesperson for the event.
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