In March 2010, Messi was appointed as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. On that occasion, Director of Private Fundraising and Partnerships Philip O´Brien said “We are very proud and very excited to welcome you to the UNICEF family.” After being the ambassador, Messi visited Argentina, Haiti and Costa Rica to raise awareness and support for UNICEF’s work. To save the lives of thousands of dying children every year due to nutrition malfunction, he made an urgent plea in December 2012. He said “We all can help to stop child deaths from preventable causes, they don’t have to die, but they do.” Leo Messi also celebrated his son’s first birthday with UNICEF.