Nicole Richie And Joel Madden Write Charity

Nicole Richie has launched her official website and included a few words about why she started the Richie Madden Children's Foundation.

“Joel and I always say we feel so blessed to live the life we live. We also realize that Harlow is blessed to get to live a life about one percent of all the children in the world get to live,” she writes on the site, launched this weekend. “We think it’s so important that every child has the opportunity to experience the absolute best in health care and education. And that’s why we started Richie-Madden Children’s Foundation. We got to thinking about all of these issues when I was pregnant with Harlow, when we launched the foundation. Joel travels all over the world, including Africa, for the organization. For the past two years, I have been either pregnant or breastfeeding, so I tend to stay closer to home. However, I did take a magical and moving trip to Moscow, Russia, about which I will write more soon! Whenever we decide on a new project or endeavor, Joel and I pick the things that our closest to our hearts.”

The statement coincides with the work Richie’s partner, Joel Madden, is currently doing to raise awareness of UNICEF’s Tap Project.

“Did you know that nearly 900 million people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water?,” he wrote in a statement. "That’s 4,200 children dying, every single day, from waterborne disease. As a UNICEF Ambassador and Tap Project spokesperson, I am committed to helping UNICEF get that number down to zero. I want to encourage everyone to do your part during World Water Week, March 22-28, 2009 to help UNICEF put an end to the preventable deaths of children due to a lack of clean water.

“I’m going to be spreading the word throughout World Water Week on Larry King Live, People Magazine, E! News and more to let everyone know why the Tap Project is such an important lifesaving campaign. Just $1 provides a child with safe drinking water for 40 days! All you have to do is find a participating restaurant online at tapproject.org, dine out during World Water Week, and pay $1 or more for the tap water you usually enjoy for free. Every single dollar raised supports UNICEF water, sanitation and hygiene programs. Even if you can’t dine out, you can still donate online at tapproject.org or text the word TAP to 864233 (UNICEF) to make a $5 donation.”