UNICEF Announces 2011 UNICEF Tap Project to Help Provide Safe, Clean Drinking Water to Children Around the World

This March When You Take Water Give Water - For Every $1 Raised, UNICEF Can Provide One Child Access to Safe, Clean Water for 40 Days

NEW YORK, Dec. 15, 2010 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Now in its fifth year, the award-winning UNICEF Tap Project, a nationwide campaign from the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, will return during World Water Week, March 20-26, 2011.  The first program of its kind, the UNICEF Tap Project has become a national movement that affords anyone the opportunity to help provide the world's children access to safe, clean water. Through numerous fundraising and volunteer activities, the UNICEF Tap Project celebrates the clean water we enjoy on a daily basis by giving its celebrity, restaurant, volunteer, corporate, and government supporters an opportunity to give water back to the children around the world via the concept "When You Take Water Give Water."

"Clean water is essential, yet nearly 900 million people worldwide lack access to it -- and nearly half of those people are children," said President and CEO of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF Caryl Stern. "The UNICEF Tap Project was created based on a simple, tangible and easy-to-implement concept to support UNICEF's efforts to bring clean and accessible water to millions of children around the world."

During World Water Week, restaurants across the United States will encourage patrons to donate $1 or more for the tap water they usually enjoy for free. In 2010 alone, nearly 1,000 restaurants and more than 4,200 volunteers from all 50 states participated in the national campaign, making it the largest volunteer mobilization effort for the U.S. Fund for UNICEF.  Volunteers will also conduct local fundraising events and activities further demonstrating their communities' commitment to giving others water that they may take for granted.

All funds raised will support UNICEF's water, sanitation and hygiene programs, and the effort to bring clean and accessible water to millions of children around the world. Countries slated to receive 2011 funding include Viet Nam, Togo and Central African Republic.

For the fourth consecutive year, Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. is providing funding to support the UNICEF Tap Project volunteer program, which includes recruitment, training, resources and support to thousands of volunteers who will lead on-the-ground efforts for the UNICEF Tap Project in their local communities.

Founding Agency Partner Droga5 and Promotional Supporter MediaVest will support the initiative once again creating a high profile, pro-bono ad campaign that will place the UNICEF Tap Project in various mediums throughout the nation leading up to and during World Water Week. The UNICEF Tap Project will once again work with Promotional Supporters from online dining sites ZAGAT.com, OpenTable.com, SeamlessWeb.com and Yelp.com.

Since its inception in 2007, the UNICEF Tap Project has raised nearly $2.5 million in the U.S. and has helped to provide clean water to millions of children around the world.  UNICEF works in more than 150 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 16 years, more than a billion people gained access to improved drinking water and sanitation facilities thanks to UNICEF's efforts.  

For more information or to register as a volunteer, visit www.tapproject.org

About UNICEF

UNICEF has saved more children's lives than any other humanitarian organization in the world. Working in more than 150 countries, UNICEF provides children with health care, clean water, nutrition, education, emergency relief, and more. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF supports UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy, and education in the United States.

UNICEF is at the forefront of efforts to reduce child mortality worldwide. There has been substantial progress: the annual number of under-five deaths dropped from 13 million in 1990 to 8.8 million in 2008. But still, 22,000 children die each day from preventable causes. Our mission is to do whatever it takes to make that number zero by giving children the essentials for a safe and healthy childhood. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org.

SOURCE U.S. Fund for UNICEF