Children Uniting Nations

Daphna Edwards Ziman is the chairperson and founder of Children Uniting Nations, a proactive organization created to elevate child welfare to the forefront of the world's consciousness. Children Uniting Nations was founded to provide the children of the world with a voice to discuss the threats and dangers of tomorrow's problems. These problems include nuclear weapons, the abuse and pollution of the world's environment, the justice system as it relates to the rights of the child, food, over population and other concerns that will affect the future of our world.

Daphna Edwards Ziman has committed herself to challenging and changing the injustices that plague our society in many ways, focusing particularly on the needs of children. Currently, she serves as chairperson of ABC LOVE (Adoption Brings Children Love), which is committed to finding and placing children in caring and loving families. She is also on the board of HIPPY (Home Instruction for Pre-School Youngsters). In addition, Mrs. Ziman supports City of Hope with her husband, Richard S. Ziman, on behalf of free medical care for the underprivileged or any human being suffering from an incurable disease.

With equal tenacity, Daphna Edwards Ziman serves on the Executive Board of The Woman's Leadership Forum, chaired by Tipper Gore, which is dedicated to bringing women into the political arena in order to become a force of change for all areas relating to women and children, as well as the community at large. Her passion to make the lives of individuals better does not end with children, but extends to the homeless through her work with Planet Hope. She has been an integral part in the founding of homeless missions and a school in East Los Angeles for gang members.

On May 3rd 1999, Mrs. Ziman representing Children Uniting Nations accompanied a delegation from the United Jewish Communities on the humanitarian mission to help Kosovo refugees. She and the group brought food and medical supplies to the refugees and airlifted mothers and children from the camps in Albania and Hungary to absorption centers in Israel.

Daphna Ziman's passion and commitment to children knows no bounds. Perhaps her most important achievement has been in succeeding to change the law in regards to the fate of abused children. During repeated visits to homeless shelters she became aware of the many abused children who were sent back to their abusive parents when suitable foster parents were interested in their care. This was due to the Family Preservation Act installed to maintain the unity of the family. According to Daphna, "…part of the law includes a reunification clause, which allows biological parents to be reunited with their own abused children, even if they were severely and permanently abused…". Mrs. Ziman went to Washington D.C. and lobbied to change the law that would permit parents to reunite with their children, "as long as its in the best interests of the child," which has resulted in dramatically increased protection for abused children.

Mrs. Ziman's dedication to the children of the world has been recently recognized by her receipt of the "Jacqueline Kennedy Award" by JFK University, the "Women of Achievement Award" by North American Council for Adoptable Children, and the "Uniting Children of the World Award" by the child welfare league of America.

On November 15, 1999, Mrs. Ziman was honored with a 1999 Peace & Tolerance Lifetime Achievement Award for Child Advocacy at the 'International Day for Tolerance Lifetime Achievement Awards'. The ceremony was held in New York City and was sponsored by DeCapo Foundation, Friends of the United Nations and Children Uniting Nations.

On November 11, 2001 Children Uniting Nations hosted 3,000 disenfranchised children at the Santa Monica Pier. CUN is planning its fourth 'Day of the Child' event on November 10th, 2002. On this day, individuals and families are invited to adopt a child for the day. Children from foster homes and missions are picked up and taken out for a day of rides, food and companionship. At the end of the day each child leaves with a gift bag of toys, clothes, and food vouchers.

January 12, 2002 saw First Ladies and Representatives from around the country congregate in Los Angeles at the Mayors' Official Home, The Getty House, for a symposium dedicated to ending Childhood Hunger in America. The Symposium was moderated by Larry King in hopes of streamlining the process of preparing three meals a day in schools, in poverty areas, in all fifty states. Partnered with the Entertainment Industry Foundation and the End Hunger Network, CUN is once again fighting for the betterment of children throughout the country.

Despite all of the time she devotes to the needs of those less fortunate, she still manages to be president of an Independent Film and Television Production Company, Edwards Entertainment International, where she wears the three hats of Writer, Producer and Director. Her latest film Footsteps screened on Showtime.