By Geoffrey Richards

Geoffrey Richards currently works as the head of U.S. special situations and restructuring at Canaccord Genuity. During his free time, Geoffrey Richards participates in a number of charitable efforts. He currently serves on the Midwest Region board of directors for UNICEF.

UNICEF, one of the largest international organizations dedicated to children’s welfare, is in the middle of a massive humanitarian initiative in the Middle East. As an extension of the United Nations, the organization recently requested more than $600 million to address the pressing needs of young Syrian refugees suffering from malnutrition and other maladies. The request came after an official UNICEF report entitled Humanitarian Action for Children 2014 concluded that about half the nation suffers from the effects of violence and economic strife. That estimate includes almost 4.3 million children. About 40 percent of the requested money will go to Syria, and the remaining funds will assist other Middle Eastern children, including those in Egypt, Iraq, and Lebanon.