By Elizabeth Willoughby on
Nicole Richie and Joel Madden are launching an online gift registry to provide baby products to moms in need.
Through the Richie Madden Children's Foundation – inaugurated last year – needy families who register through social services agencies will be able to select the baby products they require that are posted on the Foundation’s website – much like how a bridal or baby shower registry works. Then donors can choose what to contribute. Observing that even a clean blanket was out of reach for some, Richie felt the wish-list was an efficient way to connect new moms with those who want to help.
“We take for granted the basic necessities,” Richie told People. “For some families, it’s a serious struggle. This is one way to ease the financial burden and help new babies have a good start in life.
We are only working with companies and products that Joel and I would use. We’re checking every product out for safety – and all products are BPA-free.”
A changed man since the birth of his daughter earlier this year, Madden says, “I look at every single child and think of my own child… to think that 26,000 children die every day from simple things that we could prevent, just blows my mind.”
The registry should begin operations this autumn in Los Angeles and New York, with hopes of an eventual international expansion.
Copyright © 2008 Look to the Stars
