Moore, who has worked as an agent for the United Nations Children?s Fund ? better known as UNICEF ? since 1991, made goodwill ambassadors of the musicians Judit Halász and Gábor Presser at the ceremony as well as the members of the National Philharmonic Orchestra, including their conductor Zoltán Kocsis. The appointments give Hungary more UNICEF goodwill ambassadors than any other country in the world.
The goodwill ambassadors? mandates are for three years and they receive a token honorary for their work. Kocsis accepted the HUF 100 payment on behalf of the orchestra.
The National Philharmonic Orchestra has started playing a charity concert for UNICEF once a year. The second one is to take place at the Palace of Arts on December 5.
Moore will be the guest of honour at Hungary?s first UNICEF ball to be held at the Hilton Hotel on Saturday evening. Half of the proceeds from the event will go toward the purchase of toys and playground equipment for pre-schools in Hungarian villages. The other half will be used to build schools in Africa as part of a project organised by the Nelson Mandela Foundation together with UNICEF.
Moore travelled to Budapest with his wife Lady Kristina. Both will visit special pre-schools for disadvantaged children during their stay.
UNICEF is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. Since the UN General Assembly set up the organisation on December 11, 1946, it has started programmes in 157 countries, all of which are supported by donations. UNICEF receives no funding from the UN budget.
UNICEF spends some USD 2 billion a year to improve the plight of disadvantaged children. It employs 8,000 people but also relies on tens of thousands of volunteers.
More than 6 million people donate to UNICEF each year. Last year in Hungary, more than USD 1 million was collected for the organisation.
UNICEF was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1965.
