NEW YORK, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Fund for UNICEF announced that Joel Madden, UNICEF Ambassador, and Nicole Richie will host UNICEF's 2008 Beverly Hills Snowflake Lighting ceremony on Saturday, November 22 at the intersection of Rodeo Drive and Wilshire Boulevard. The ceremony highlights the City of Beverly Hills' "Light the Night" annual holiday event where the UNICEF Snowflake and the 20 Baccarat chandeliers that grace Rodeo Drive are illuminated to kick off the holiday season.
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Madden, lead vocalist for the critically acclaimed, platinum-album-selling band, Good Charlotte, was named UNICEF's newest Goodwill Ambassador in July 2008 during CNN's broadcast of "The Survival Project: One Child at a Time" and his first field visit as an official UNICEF Ambassador is scheduled for the fall. Richie is also no stranger to social and humanitarian causes as she and Madden recently formed the Richie-Madden Children's Foundation, a charity which provides funding to groups focused on improving pediatric health, education and human rights, both domestically and abroad.
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"We are honored to have Joel and Nicole participate in the Beverly Hills lighting ceremony," says Caryl Stern, President and Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF. "With their tremendous commitment to UNICEF's child survival mission, Joel and Nicole are the perfect people for UNICEF to share this meaningful tradition with."
Also, during the lighting ceremony, The 88 and Capital Records performing artist Kreesha Turner will treat guests to a live performance. LA-based band The 88 debuted their album Not Only... But Also last month and fans have heard their hit songs during popular television shows such as Grey's Anatomy, Gossip Girl and 90210. Kreesha Turner is currently working on her latest album Passion and will pump up the crowd with her smash hit "Bounce With Me" which has been featured on The Hills, Lipstick Jungle and Ugly Betty.
Before Madden and Richie take the stage to flip the switch to illuminate the UNICEF Snowflake, guests will enjoy family activities and a visit from Santa Claus along Rodeo Drive. The evening will conclude with a spectacular fireworks display atop the Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons Hotel, which is home to the west coast UNICEF Snowflake. In conjunction with the lighting, the hotel has created the "Melted Snowflake," a special drink in honor of the UNICEF Snowflake that will be served on the hot chocolate menu in The BLVD.
Festivities begin at 3:00pm with the official lighting at 6:00pm. The UNICEF Snowflake Lighting is open to the public and the Snowflake will be illuminated for the entire holiday season serving as a beacon of hope, peace and compassion.
About UNICEF
For more than 60 years, UNICEF has been the world's leading international children's organization, working in 156 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. www.unicefusa.org.
SOURCE U.S. Fund for UNICEF
