Maybe Pete Wentz has finally grown up after all. For a while there, it was touch-and-go for the often overexposed Fall Out Boy bassist who has shared surprisingly intimate details of his life ranging from his bipolar disorder and consequent 2005 suicide attempt to the online leak of not traditionally photogenic or appropriate body parts (although to be perfectly fair, a former romantic interest did the dirty deed). As the now married 30 year old and father to 15-month old son Bronx contemplates the expansion of his family with Ashlee Simpson, he's come to a crossroads in his life as his multi-award winning band continues their extended hiatus.
The always busy Wentz continues to forge ahead with multiple side projects, including the promotion of his street wear fashion line called Clandestine Industries as well as a few book projects but lately, his attentions have taken a surprisingly philanthropic turn with his casual announcement via Twitter that he's just been appointed the new face for UNICEF's Tap Project. To the uninitiated, this position carries with it a certain sense of gravity and seriousness since the spokesman is charged with the responsibility of helping the organization to raise awareness regarding their efforts "to bring clean and accessible water to millions of children around the world" through national media promotional efforts. Well done, Pete...we didn't know you had it in you.
The four year old project -- which has already raised $1.5 million since its inception in the U.S. alone - is being showcased during March 21-27 which happens to be World Water Week. UNIFEF requests that everyday restaurant patrons reach into their wallets during that time period to donate just one single dollar for their tap water while dining at participating restaurants around the country. The point is to demonstrate that with very little personal sacrifice, we can all make a measurable impact on this chronically persistent humanitarian issue. Our collective dollars ultimately help to fund UNICEF's Water, Sanitation and Hygiene programs in more than 100 regions around the world (such as Iraq, Belize, and Cote D'Ivoire) through the drilling and installation of water pumps, the construction of latrines and the implementation of safe water education.
Of their current spokesperson choice, UNICEF C.E.O. Caryl M. Stern feels that Monsieur Wentz is "the right fit for Tap and we're thrilled he has agreed to join us in our larger mission to reduce the number of preventable childhood deaths from 24,000 daily to zero." Pete himself seems equally as thrilled, "It's truly an honor to be the national spokesperson for the Tap Project and support efforts to provide clean water to children in the developing world. Water is something that we as Americans often take for granted but the reality is, the lack of clean and accessible drinking water kills 4,100 children under the age of five every day and as a new father I have become highly attuned to the needs of children everywhere. Unfortunately, it's usually when emergencies like Haiti occur, that the importance of clean water really becomes apparent to the rest of us." Sounds like the words of a wizened global citizen who is finally using his celebrity status for good. Nice, going, Fall Out Man.
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