Unicef Launches Nationwide Tap Project On World Water Day (March 22) To Help Provide Safe Drinking Water For Children Around The World

Lack of Clean Water Is the Second Largest Killer of Children Under Five

(New York, NY - November 2007) - After a successful pilot program in New York City last year, UNICEF announced today it will expand the Tap Project nationwide to 10 cities on World Water Day 2008 (March 22). The Tap Project, a grassroots initiative to provide clean water to children around the world, invites individuals to donate $1 for the tap water they normally get for free at participating restaurants.

With the move to expand nationwide, officials with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF will engage their donors by mobilizing volunteers nationwide with the goal of raising awareness of Tap and recruiting restaurants to participate in the initiative.

Aside from New York, restaurants in the following cities will participate in 2008: Boston, Cincinnati, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Portland, San Francisco and Seattle.

“Tap water is our single most bountiful, natural resource,” said Caryl Stern, president and CEO, U.S. Fund for UNICEF. “Yet the lack of clean and accessible drinking water is one of the reasons why millions of children are dying of preventable causes. Expanding Tap beyond New York City is just the beginning of a large scale child survival movement that will rely heavily on volunteers.”

As with last year, participating restaurants will receive a project toolkit containing materials which briefly describe the Tap Project, and invite customers to support UNICEF water programs by adding a donation of $1.00 per person to their bill.

Last year, over 300 hundreds restaurants and thousands of customers supported the city-wide effort that raised more than $100,000 to provide four million children with safe and clean water. Already, the Tap Project has benefited countries such as Laos, Iraq and Angola. Participants included high profile media executives, chefs and a host of celebrities. The Tap Project is the first of its kind – a national grassroots effort offering individuals and restaurants across the nation a simple and effective way to make a difference in a child’s life.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., will be contributing $600,000 to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to supplement their volunteer recruitment for Tap. These efforts will include the recruitment of TAP Project coordinators in five key markets around the nation and the compilation of comprehensive volunteer toolkits meant to heighten awareness and encourage the participation of restaurants.

More than one billion people do not have access to clean water or adequate sanitation and one in five of them are children. Eighty percent of all illness and infant mortality is due to waterborne disease. Lack of clean water is the second largest killer of children under five.

UNICEF works in more than 90 countries around the world to improve access to safe water and sanitation facilities in schools and communities, and to promote safe hygiene practices. Over the past 15 years, more than a billion people gained access to improved drinking water and sanitation facilities. UNICEF's goal is to reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe water and basic sanitation by 2015. A little goes a long way – for example, with $1 UNICEF can provide 40 liters of safe drinking water, which is enough to give one child safe drinking water for 40 days, or forty children safe drinking water for one day.

For more information, visit www.tapproject.org

About UNICEF

For more than 60 years, UNICEF has been the world’s leading international children’s organization, working in over 150 countries to address the ongoing issues that affect why kids are dying. UNICEF provides lifesaving nutrition, clean water, education, protection and emergency response saving more young lives than any other humanitarian organization in the world. While millions of children die every year of preventable causes like dehydration, upper respiratory infections and measles, UNICEF, with the support of partnering organizations and donors alike, has the global experience, resources and reach to give children the best hope of survival. For more information about UNICEF, please visit www.unicefusa.org. About World Water Day

In December of 1992, the United Nations General Assembly declared March 22nd of each year World Day for Water. Countries were invited to devote the day to concrete activities such as the promotion of public awareness, conferences, round tables, seminars and expositions related to the conservation and development of water resources. The theme for World Water Day 2007 is “Coping with Water Scarcity” and the Tap Project is proud to help.

Contact:

Gina Sisco
JS2 Communications
212-905-6263
gsisco@js2comm.com

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