Monday PSA: Superman talks about “Pennies for UNICEF”
Filed under: Comics
With both Halloween and United Nations Day just around the corner, this seemed the perfect time to let Superman teach us about “Pennies for UNICEF!” In this public service ad, Superman flies a couple of American children around the world just so that they can see where the money they collect is going.
After “Stay in School,” I think the United Nations was the second most common topic among DC comics PSAs. Of course, they were written in an era when the United States had more power and prestige in the UN, and, frankly, held the institution in higher esteem. I doubt you’d see a similar PSA written today.
Does UNICEF still collect pennies at Halloween? We get plenty of trick-or-treaters but I haven’t seen one of the orange collection boxes in years.
This public service ad was popular enough to run twice, in the DC comics of 1962 and 1966. This particular copy was scanned in from The Brave and the Bold #45 (December 1962). The script was written by Jack Schiff with art by Sheldon Moldoff.
Another UNICEF PSA
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October 20th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
I remember trick-or-treating every year with a unicef box. It’s been discontinued in Canada since 2006.
I know this isn’t the most questionable thing Superman has ever done, but instead flying boys around the world to educate them about UNICEF, wouldn’t his time be better spent directly helping UNICEF?
October 21st, 2008 at 1:43 am
And, as usual, we get the question of why Superman doesn’t help out rather than just flying kids around. The excuses just never seem to suffice…
October 21st, 2008 at 2:10 am
UNICEF still collects foreign exchange on a few airlines’ international flights. However, I’ve recently learned first hand how foreign aid disbursing personnel travel and where they stay. No longer will I donate to such large international charities. MSF, in contrast, has audit trails leading to 90%+ spending on real aid, instead of money spent on staff salaries and lodging.
October 21st, 2008 at 3:21 pm
My daughters found the orange boxes at a Hallmark store and are planning on trick-or-treating for UNICEF. You can collect the money and send them a check or deposit the change in a Coinstar machine
October 21st, 2008 at 8:00 pm
“It’s been discontinued in Canada since 2006.”
I distinctly recall those being phased out in the late 80s. My older brother had one a few times, but they had stopped by the time I was old enough. Perhaps it varied by region.
October 21st, 2008 at 8:56 pm
Thanks, Scott. My high school does Trick or Treat for UNICEF. This PSA will be a perfect one-page flyer.
October 22nd, 2008 at 3:45 pm
I have never seen a UNICEF box in my life – was never given one when I was a kid, and never seen anyone else carry one back then or since. I think the first time I’d ever even heard of UNICEF was a mention in _Superfudge_, which always made me think that it must have been an East Coast thing (I grew up in LA).
October 23rd, 2008 at 11:20 am
Contrary to Mike, I grew up in the SF bay area and had the little boxes every year, so it probably just didn’t catch on in LA. I was trick-or-treating as late as… god, let’s see. I started high school in 02 so I think the last time I saw one was halloween of ‘01.
October 24th, 2008 at 11:28 am
When I first scanned the title of this post, I thought it said “PENISES for UNICEF.” Talk about getting screwed for the UN!
October 25th, 2008 at 10:12 am
To Conor: Yeah, UNICEF officially stopped giving boxes to children for trick-or-treating nation-wide in 2006. I remember seeing them at least up until the mid or late nineties in Saskatchewan.
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