UTA partner Jeremy Barber joins UNICEF USA board to enlist Hollywood
UTA partner Jeremy Barber has been appointed to UNICEF USA's national board of directors, Variety reports exclusively. The Hollywood agent plans to mobilize creators, influencers, and stars to amplify UNICEF's global child-welfare mission as international aid faces mounting economic pressure worldwide.
In an exclusive interview with Variety, Barber framed the appointment around a simple conviction: protecting children is work that transcends politics. He called child well-being "irrefutable" and said, "I believe we're here to take care of each other."
Key Takeaways
- UTA partner Jeremy Barber joins UNICEF USA's national board alongside Rep. Michael T. McCaul and former Sen. Jon Tester.
- Barber wants Hollywood, influencers, and podcasters to help tell UNICEF's stories worldwide.
- He previously served on the board of The People Concern, a major Los Angeles County social services provider.
- Barber argues UNICEF's work is especially critical as global aid budgets shrink and crises intensify.
Why did Jeremy Barber join the UNICEF USA board?
Barber told Variety he sees no higher calling than safeguarding children. A self-described "Rockefeller Republican," he said the role is not partisan: "It's not left or right."
His path to service runs through both politics and entertainment. Before Hollywood, Barber worked in Washington, D.C., and later joined the board of The People Concern, which addresses homelessness, poverty, illness, abuse, and addiction across Los Angeles County.
A Venice bike ride with his three children during COVID, past a growing encampment, pushed him to act. "I'm not going to model for my children or anybody that it's OK to let humans live on the streets," he recalled.
How will Hollywood help UNICEF tell its stories?
Barber's UTA role gives him deep ties to filmmakers, actors, and digital creators. He said UNICEF can tap "the influencer economy," "the movie star business," and podcasts to spread its message.
"We have a lot of ways where we can help both tell the story of things and push those ideas out," Barber told Variety. For more on how entertainment and advocacy intersect, see our Streaming & TV Alerts coverage.
He pointed to UNICEF's earthquake response in Venezuela as an example of on-the-ground impact worth amplifying. "They are boots on the ground," he said of the organization's work there.
Who else joined the UNICEF USA board?
UNICEF USA announced two other new directors alongside Barber: Rep. Michael T. McCaul, a Texas Republican, and Jon Tester, the former Democratic senator from Montana. The bipartisan additions underscore the board's broad coalition.
Barber said shrinking international aid makes UNICEF's mission more urgent than ever. "The work of UNICEF has never been more important or critical," he said. Read the full Variety exclusive for additional context on his appointment.
What shaped Barber's commitment to service?
Growing up on Manhattan's Upper West Side, Barber watched his mother champion education in New York City. She opened charter schools and launched free meal programs, believing no child is responsible for where they are born.
That upbringing, combined with his work at The People Concern under CEO John Maceri, reinforced a housing-and-services model he now brings to UNICEF USA's national leadership.