Roger Moore, 2001 recipient of the Kiwanis World Service Medal

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Left to right: U.S. Fund for UNICEF President Charles J. Lyons; Walter Sellers, former President of Kiwanis International; and UNICEF Special Representative for the Film Arts Roger Moore.

"Good evening, everyone.

I always tell people how terrific and dedicated Kiwanians are. At every one of the Kiwanis meetings I've gone to, the room has been filled with people who take the time to make a difference by spending their weekends supporting Kiwanis projects that strengthen their community, their country, and their world. And tonight is no exception. It's an honor to be here with members of this great Kiwanis family, who have done so much for children worldwide in the fight to help UNICEF eliminate iodine deficiency disorders or IDD.

In my work with you on the Worldwide Service Project, I've often wondered why IDD still exists. We know that iodized salt combined with education about the issue is the answer -- and neither solution is terribly complex or difficult. Although the remedies are clear, what has been lacking was committed people to stand up and say: It's not acceptable that iodine deficiency threatens millions of people. It's not acceptable that IDD remains the single greatest cause of preventable brain damage in the world today. And, it's not acceptable that iodine deficiency continues to cause goiters and cretinism -- just a few of its devastating effects. That is, until Kiwanis took on the challenge. Since 1994, the elimination of IDD has been the focus of your Worldwide Service Project. Now, we are eagerly anticipating the Kiwanis Convention, in the near future, when we'll be celebrating a wrong that has been made right.

It goes without saying that I'm proud to be a part of this effort. But tonight, I am truly honored to be the recipient of the Kiwanis World Service Medal, which was presented to me last night. But the real honorees are each of you as your personal commitment to children has already accomplished so much good. In my opinion, the enormous progress that's already been made is worthy of many, many medals. The campaign to meet the IDD challenge by raising seventy-five million dollars has been applauded around the world. Sixty-three million dollars of your contributions -- which includes funds from other partners -- is currently at work in the field, and helps give a future to millions of children whose potential could have been completely wasted.

Click here for Recipients and the Criteria of reciving the Kiwanis World Service Medal

Thanks to all of you, more than ninety-one million newborns a year are protected from preventable brain damage and mental retardation. They will grow into children - and adults - who have a chance to propel themselves beyond the poverty that has virtually imprisoned generations before them. And, they will be capable of making a useful contribution to society. Eventually, they will be able to use their energy, intelligence, and creativity to advance their nations toward greater self-sustainability - and, in turn, create a much-improved world.

To the parents of these children, this must seem like nothing short of a miracle. Many of these young people are the first in generations to be free of IDD. By making this possible for them, you have proved that every single one of us can make a difference in a child's life. If we continue to follow your example, and as a global community come together for good, we can, and will, accomplish great things for children and families in need. Children in the world's poorest regions will be shown that their lives hold dignity and promise -- that they can have a brighter future.

This is one of the main reasons I believe so strongly in UNICEF. I've seen firsthand what we can achieve for children.

I saw how the international community helped restore hope to children by providing clean water, better health care, improved nutrition, and quality education. These experiences proved to me that we can change the world, as we know it, for children, as long as the will and determination are there. Having recently attended the United Nations Special Session on Children, and represented UNICEF at the World Cup, I can tell you that our fellow citizens are aware of the challenges developing countries face in caring for their children -- the most vulnerable citizens. During the Special Session, I watched young people mobilize to influence policy and ensure that governments keep their promises to children. And, for the first time in its history, the FIFA World Cup is devoted to a humanitarian cause -- UNICEF.

You've demonstrated what can be achieved through hard work and committed leadership. You've added your voices to the growing movement to create a world fit for children, a world where they are no longer victims of poverty, violence, disease or malnutrition, where their basic right to nutrition, health care, and education is respected.

The anticipated victory over IDD will be one of the greatest public health triumphs in history. It will mean that millions of newborns will be protected annually from a thirteen-percent loss in their ability to learn. It will mean that these children will have a real chance to learn and to realize their right to a quality, basic education. A world of opportunities will be open to them - and to the communities in which they live.

As we go forward with the Worldwide Service Project, it is important to think about our increasingly interconnected world. The world is getting smaller and, through technological breakthroughs, much faster. To this day, I find it quite incredible that I can instantly watch my granddaughter in Los Angeles grow when I look at photos e-mailed to me in Switzerland.

We live and work in a global marketplace that brings the four corners of the earth closer and closer on a daily basis. Indonesia and the Baltic States are among the areas that remain threatened by IDD. For example, every year in Indonesia, 1.6 million children are born "unprotected" and, therefore, suffer from brain damage due to a lack of iodine in their mother's diet. And despite various efforts over the years, only 2/3rds of all households consume iodized salt. But, soon, there will come a day when you, or perhaps your children, will hire a Lithuanian software technician, or when your school district hires an Indonesian teacher. And, what if this person came from a community that -- because of our work -- no longer suffers from iodine deficiency? This is the great gift and legacy of the Worldwide Service Project. We're doing nothing less than saving lives and building futures and helping to give all children the chance to reach their full potential.

In working toward this goal, we all look forward to future cooperation with you as Kiwanians, as business leaders, as parents, as caring citizens of the world. This is not the time to rest on our past success. We can't stop our work until every child is free from the threat of IDD.

Kiwanis and its membership have shown that extraordinary feats can be accomplished when they take on a challenge; but let us also teach our children that these achievements should not be the exception -- they can and must be the rule. We know that a healthy and peaceful future for every child is a goal we can reach together.

I urge all of you to keep this promise to the world's children: Remain dedicated, continue to monitor and evaluate all your hard work and achievements, and those of our UNICEF colleagues in the field, and you will eliminate IDD from our planet.

On behalf of UNICEF, I thank you all for your tremendous service to children. This evening, we celebrate the collaborative spirit that has brought us so far in so little time, and reaffirm our determination to make sure that lifesaving progress continues until IDD is in the past.

As Kiwanians, I know you can and will do nothing less. Thank you". Roger Moore

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