Nicole Richie and Joel Madden launch their children’s foundation
Nicole Richie, 26, and boyfriend Joel Madden, 28, celebrated the launch of their Richie Madden Children’s Foundation with a surprise baby shower for 100 moms-to-be atthe Los Angeles Free Clinic on December 3rd in Hollywood, CA. The couple handed out more than $200,000 worth of gifts, including Fisher-Price toys, Dr. Brown’s bottles, Oopa baby slings, Graco products, including strollers and high-chairs, Baby Bjorns, cribs, mattresses, diapers, socks, and much more. Nicole says,
The looks on their faces were priceless. Some of them didn’t even believe us [when they saw thegifts]. They thought we were joking. It’s really, really amazing. And they’re fantastic.
We named the foundation the Richie-Madden Foundation because it’s not just Joel and I that want to help. We each have families and our families are very close. This is a family foundation. It’s not a couple’s foundation. Our whole family is involved –- his brother, Benji, he has another brother and he has a sister my age who’s pregnant and is expecting any day now. And I have a younger brother and a younger sister. And I think that it’s important for me to be a good role model to them and show them how important it is to share and give back and to lend a helping hand.
Joel adds,
It’s exciting to think that our child will grow up in a loving environment with two families that are completely connected to each other. We’re lucky that we have families that like each other, that all get along, that all talk to each other. It’s very real. Our families, they really do like each other, they really do care about each other…
We’re just trying to do our part, but also to start our child’s life off right, and to have the right priorities and the right frame of mind for the next 20 years of our lives.
On the decision to use their pregnancy as a way to bring awareness to other young moms, Nicole said,
We started [the foundation] out here in Los Angeles because this is our home and we live here. But we are hoping to spread this to all areas of the world. Joel and I travel a lot. We traveled a lot, even when I was pregnant. We went to Asia and Australia, and our hope is to improve the lives of people all over the world. It starts here, and the Los Angeles Free Clinic is a perfect place to start. They are a really amazing clinic.
When we [initially visited] here, I got a chance to meet a woman who was nine months’ pregnant. She’s since had the baby. And I really felt that it’s not just us giving to them. They’ve got something that they can give me as well. And that’s just a woman talking to another woman about pregnancy, about being a new mom. That’s not something that I can give them; [but] they can give it to me. I’m really looking forward to developing personal relationships with the mothers here. It feels really good to know that you have someone to talk to and that you have someone to lean on…
Joel remarks,
We grew up in Los Angeles, and we want our childto be a part of the community, and to know that there’s aresponsibility to help the community.
Sometimes people don’twant to believe that me and Nicole are just a young couple having ababy and we’re really excited. We don’t really get to share our liveswith people. It’s nice to connect with people on a real level. Everything that’s gonna be in our nursery is gonna be in their nursery. It’s pretty great.
Last month, Nicole and Joel started the foundation off with a bang by encouraging donation of gifts at their shower — asking only for a book to start their child’s library for themselves. Click here for more information, or click here to make your own donation.
Visit Getty Images for more photos.
- Posted on Dec 3, 07 at 6:53PM
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- 20 Comments
December 3rd, 2007 at 7:43 pm
Dus someone have the link The Richie Madden Children’s Foundation website I wood love to help
December 3rd, 2007 at 8:49 pm
WoW! That is immensely nice. They just gained so many respect-points from me!
I wasn’t so sure about them before.
December 3rd, 2007 at 9:57 pm
I love Nicole’s look! She is so adorable!!
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:20 pm
That’s awesome. Nicole seems to be growing up and maturing. Good job to both of them!
December 3rd, 2007 at 10:27 pm
ive been a gc fan since there first album came out and im just so happy for joel and nicole i think there a amazing beautiful couple and i think its amazing how sweet and generous they are <3
and also its so beautiful too see how much process and how far nicole has grown since her pregnancy, i think there going to be wonderful parents <333
December 3rd, 2007 at 11:04 pm
Nicole looks pretty and healthy. I don’t think she’s ever looked better than she does right now. I’m happy for both of them.
December 3rd, 2007 at 11:13 pm
That is so wonderful that they are giving back! Amazing what a baby can do!
December 3rd, 2007 at 11:32 pm
Nicole looks so pretty, and what a nice thing to do. I have always been a fan of her’s.
December 3rd, 2007 at 11:52 pm
i’m just so proud of her
December 4th, 2007 at 12:08 am
It is wonderful! Simply wonderful!
Love them and wish them all the best <3
December 4th, 2007 at 12:17 am
Wow amazing how much Nicole has changed. With a new man in her life and baby on the way, she seems to be really happy. I wish them both the best..Congrats Nicole..
December 4th, 2007 at 3:36 am
What they’re doing is immensely nice! I’ve never been a fan of either, but they have all my support on this project!
December 4th, 2007 at 7:33 am
That’s amazing that they would do something like that. Good for them.
December 4th, 2007 at 8:33 am
This young couple is setting such a fine example and are laying the ground work for being responsible parents. I really appreciate seeing positive press about young couples(young people in general). Nicole looks amazing in grey. She looks so beautiful in that dress. Not to mention happy, rested, and healthy.
December 4th, 2007 at 9:00 am
I wasn’t ever really a Nicole Richie fan, but since she’s become pregnant she appears to have grown up so much. I understand how the anticipation of a child can do that and it’s wonderful to see her coming into her own in preparation for this event!
December 4th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
i think the baby is going to look great
congrats
December 4th, 2007 at 5:19 pm
I’ve always admired Nicole, and get a little annoyed when people act like she was so horrible before. She is incredibly intelligent and has always had her wits about her despite getting into some trouble as a young adult. This couple truly is remarkable, and I wish them all the best.
December 5th, 2007 at 1:13 am
what a difference a year can make.best of luck with their foundation. its so nice to see nicole doing well, feeling good and with something to look forward to finally. joel seems like a decent guy also(not doubting he ever was, but i don’t know much about either of them). this child is very lucky IMHO.
December 6th, 2007 at 11:39 am
I have always liked nicole, she is very funny;has a witty personality. Just got into trouble with drugs as a young adult, but has grown from that it seems. This now just makes me love her more.
August 15th, 2008 at 9:39 am
I love Nicole! This project is an ingenious way of taking advantage of technology and promoting efficiency to give back. It is a great idea.