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Hi Everyone,

This past year, philanthropy has opened my eyes to so much need and so much beauty. I have also realized how easy it is to help, and how rewarding it feels to be able to make a positive difference in someone's life.

Last week, my friend Carlos and I brought a video camera to Beyond Shelter. Just the two of us. There are 175 children with families here, most of whom have been homeless at some point.

Today, they play in a concrete courtyard. Because of the neighborhood they live in, they have nowhere else to play. I met a woman who has ten children living in a three-bedroom apartment. The Beyond Shelter rec room only allows ten kids at a time. I wish you could all go there with me and see.

I'd like to share with you a glimpse of these beautiful children through my eyes.

Please watch this video, Text "CHILD" to "90999" up to 5 times, share this with as many people as you can -- and ask them, from your heart, to join you in bringing more light and laughter to these beautiful faces.

It's just you and me making this happen. There is so much we can do together to help. A playground is just the beginning. We can change the world -- you and I.

I'm asking from my heart, and I cannot do it without your help. Please, you guys. Thank you for watching, texting and passing it on.

Peace & love,

Nicole

The Richie-Madden Children’s Foundation is dedicated to bringing meaningful opportunities to children in the U.S. and abroad, while also striving to bring light and laughter into their lives through unique entertainment and special events.

Change the life of a child… with a simple text.

We’re pleased to announce the launch of "Text CHILD to 90999", a new campaign to raise funds to help kids through a new kind of fundraising – with a simple text message. Each text message donates $5, billed to your phone bill. This is the first time a campaign is using popular culture mass media to raise funds with the new technology, so we’re excited to see how much we can raise.

The first thing we want to do is build a playground at Beyond Shelter. Their service enriched apartment building in Los Angeles has families with 175 kids in it, most of whom were formerly homeless. They’re playing in a concrete courtyard where we held our campaign launch today. We want to build them a playground – and you can help!

Out of the $5.00 donation, $4.50 goes to The Richie-Madden Children’s Foundation to support programs like the playground at Beyond Shelter, and $.50 goes to the Mobile Giving Foundation to support more text donate programs like this. Standard text message rates also apply.

Most of the major US carriers support the campaign. If you’re outside the US, you can still join us by donating online.

We haven’t produced commercials or advertisements. It’s just you and us. Hopefully enough people will text "CHILD" to "90999" once, twice, up to five times, to help us build a playground at Beyond Shelter… and more.

Thanks for your help!
And, please, TEXT "C-H-I-L-D" to "9-0-9-9-9"