Mary Emma Allison
Encyclopedia
Mary Emma Allison was an American school librarian who co-created Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF
in 1950. Her three children were the initial participants in the fund raising effort, which by the time of her death had brought in $160 million to be used for the benefit of needy children around the world.
Born Mary Emma Woodruff in 1917, she earned her undergraduate degree at Wheaton College
. After working as a school teacher, she majored in library science for her master's degree and was employed as a librarian in a Chicago school.
While living with her family in Philadelphia, she and her husband Clyde Allison, a Presbyterian minister, collected clothing and items for the Church World Service
to be distributed in Europe as humanitarian aid for refugees in the aftermath of World War II
.
As that effort was winding down, she attended a children's costume parade in late 1949 and followed the children and a cow into Wanamaker's
(department store) in Center City (downtown) Philadelphia, where she saw a booth raising funds for UNICEF.
Together with her husband, Allison conceived of a program in which children would collect funds for UNICEF as part of their Halloween
trick-or-treating
. Her husband publicized the program in a magazine he edited that went to Sunday school teachers before Halloween 1950 suggesting that children collect money in empty milk cartons to help raise money to pay for powdered milk to be sent overseas and their children collected $17 that first year. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF
took over the program on a formal basis starting in 1953, with children collecting money door-to-door in orange boxes designed for that purpose. By the time of Allison's death, the program had raised $160 million to benefit children in need.
, Allison died at her home there, aged 93, on October 27, 2010, days before the 60th anniversary of the fundraising program. She was survived by a daughter, two sons, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF
Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF is a fund-raising program for children sponsored by the United Nations Children's Fund . Started on Halloween 1950 as a local event in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, the program historically involves the distribution of small orange boxes by schools to...
in 1950. Her three children were the initial participants in the fund raising effort, which by the time of her death had brought in $160 million to be used for the benefit of needy children around the world.
Born Mary Emma Woodruff in 1917, she earned her undergraduate degree at Wheaton College
Wheaton College (Illinois)
Wheaton College is a private, evangelical Protestant liberal arts college in Wheaton, Illinois, a suburb west of Chicago in the United States...
. After working as a school teacher, she majored in library science for her master's degree and was employed as a librarian in a Chicago school.
While living with her family in Philadelphia, she and her husband Clyde Allison, a Presbyterian minister, collected clothing and items for the Church World Service
Church World Service
Founded in 1946, Church World Service is a cooperative ministry of 37 Christian denominations and communions in the United States, providing sustainable self-help, development, disaster relief, and refugee assistance around the world...
to be distributed in Europe as humanitarian aid for refugees in the aftermath of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
As that effort was winding down, she attended a children's costume parade in late 1949 and followed the children and a cow into Wanamaker's
Wanamaker's
Wanamaker's department store was the first department store in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the first department stores in the United States. At its zenith in the early 20th century, there were two major Wanamaker department stores, one in Philadelphia and one in New York City at Broadway...
(department store) in Center City (downtown) Philadelphia, where she saw a booth raising funds for UNICEF.
Together with her husband, Allison conceived of a program in which children would collect funds for UNICEF as part of their Halloween
Halloween
Hallowe'en , also known as Halloween or All Hallows' Eve, is a yearly holiday observed around the world on October 31, the night before All Saints' Day...
trick-or-treating
Trick-or-treating
Trick-or-treating or "Guising", is a customary practice for children on Halloween in many countries. Children in costumes travel from house to house in order to ask for treats such as candy with the question "Trick or treat?"...
. Her husband publicized the program in a magazine he edited that went to Sunday school teachers before Halloween 1950 suggesting that children collect money in empty milk cartons to help raise money to pay for powdered milk to be sent overseas and their children collected $17 that first year. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF
U.S. Fund for UNICEF
The United States Fund for UNICEF is the United States non-profit non-governmental organization that supports the United Nations Children's Fund . Founded in 1947 by Helenka Pantaleoni, it is the oldest of the 36 UNICEF National Committees that support UNICEF worldwide through fundraising,...
took over the program on a formal basis starting in 1953, with children collecting money door-to-door in orange boxes designed for that purpose. By the time of Allison's death, the program had raised $160 million to benefit children in need.
Death
A resident of Lowell, IndianaLowell, Indiana
-Demographics:At the 2000 census, there were 7,505 people, 2,697 households and 2,030 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,839.2 per square mile . There were 2,809 housing units at an average density of 688.4 per square mile...
, Allison died at her home there, aged 93, on October 27, 2010, days before the 60th anniversary of the fundraising program. She was survived by a daughter, two sons, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.