Selena Gomez to Embark on First UNICEF Mission as Ambassador

Actress Selena Gomez, 17, star of Disney's "The Wizards of Waverly Place," was named an ambassador of UNICEF, a charity organization that provides education, food, and medical benefits for unprivileged children all around the world. She is the youngest ambassador for UNICEF in the organization's history.

Gomez said, "Every day 25,000 die from preventable causes. . . . I stand with UNICEF in the belief that we can change that number from 25,000 to zero."

This week, the young actress will head off to Ghana on her first field-mission with the organization. The details of her assignment have not been released yet.

Gomez is proving to be a truly respectable role model, unlike other child stars such as Miley Cyrus, who has engaged in no notable charity work despite her considerable wealth.

Sources: Gossip Center, The Hollywood Gossip, Perez Hilton