The United Nations Association of the United States of America is a not-for-profit membership organization dedicated to building among the American people understanding of and support for the ideals and vital work of the United Nations System. Its educational and humanitarian campaigns, including teaching students in urban schools, clearing minefields and providing school-based support for children living in HIV/AIDS-affected communities in Africa, allow people to make a global impact at the local level. In addition, its policy and advocacy programs stress the importance of nations working together and the need for United States leadership in the United Nations. The UNA-USA has approximately 175 Chapters located throughout the 50 states. The association is affiliated with the World Federation of United Nations Associations.
With over 200 members, the Tampa Bay Chapter of the UNA-USA is on a growth pattern of well over ten per cent per year!
The chapter has established an expanding presence in the Tampa Bay community and also at several local universities and colleges, including Eckerd College, St Petersburg College, Schiller University, Stetson College of Law, the University of South Florida, and The University of Tampa.
UNA-USA Tampa Bay's board of directors is a diverse group representing the Tampa Bay Area. The current President, Paul Yingst, retired executive and former elected official, has been active in UNA both locally and nationally for many years. The Chair of Programs is a graduate of the John C. Whitehead School of Diplomacy at Seton Hall. Our VP’s and Director’s are Professors and Faculty of local universities, corporate executives, lead teachers in local schools, former foreign service officers, and young professionals. One of the local chapter programs is YPIC, Young Professionals for International Cooperation.
The mandate of the organization is primarily to educate the community and public officials about the activities of the United Nations System and to work for constructive US Leadership in an effective United Nations. The chapter welcomes new members, business and academic leaders, young professionals, and retirees, interested in giving back to make the world a better place.
A typical service program sponsored by UNA-USA’s Tampa Bay Chapter was the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the United Nations in October 2005 with the showing of six of the ten award winning documentary films from the series, “What’s going on?” , available through the United Nations Works Program, UN Department of Public Information, New York. This event took place at the downtown Tampa Convention Center. All money raised from donations went to the Chapter's various programs in support of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals. Projects benefiting from chapter fundraising included the Heifer International Project, $370. This donation was split to purchase a water buffalo for $250 and a goat for $120 for various individuals in third world countries. $500 was donated to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Capetown, Africa, to enable AIDS victims to receive the antiretroviral medication; and $400 to Earthquake Relief, Pakistan. The latter donation was divided equally between All Pakistan Women’s Association, (Mrs. Arnaz Marker’s non-profit), and Peter Armacost, ex-President of Eckerd College, and now President of Ferman Christian College in Lahore, Pakistan.
