Haiti telethon raises $57 million, so far

[cal04]

Source: AP

Organizers for the all-star Hope for Haiti Now telethon say the event raised $57 million — and counting.

"The public has set a new standard of giving for a relief telethon with Hope for Haiti Now, and the donations continue to come in," Lisa Paulsen, president and CEO of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, said in a statement released Saturday. The group is helping to oversee the funds gathered from the event.

The two-hour telethon aired Friday night on the major networks and dozens of other channels, including MTV, Bravo, and PBS, and was also streamed live online. Stars like Brad Pitt, Beyonce, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen and more used their presence to encourage donations for Haiti, following a Jan. 12 earthquake that killed an estimated 200,000 people.


The total released Saturday includes money raised by phone, text and the Web. It does not include donations by corporations or via iTunes, where people are able to buy performances of the event for 99 cents each, or the entire album for $7.99. Those funds also go to Haiti relief.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2010-01-23-haiti-telethon-donations_N.htm

[flvegan]

1. Fantastic news!

[FrenchieCat]

2. I'm buying the Album! It's well worth it!

:bounce:

[madmax]

3. Good start.....

As I've heard many of those involved in the fundraising, Clooney for one - it's a start. Haiti will need much more help to get past what it was like even before the quake. Since there is movement to help Haiti - let's go all the way. This poor nation has endured so much. Haiti could set the standard for what the world can do when we work togeether and in peace.

[Ex Lurker]

4. color me cynical but...

I'd like to know how many of those celebrities hocked their expensive cars and jewelry for the cause. Some Hollywood type exhorting me to give til it hurts leaves me cold, frankly.

[hughee99]

5. For me, anyway, it's about the pitch...

I don't mind getting a "give whatever you can, every little bit helps" pitch, but hearing the "give til' it hurts" pitch from a celebrity does piss me off. I didn't see the event, so I don't know what kind of pitch was made.

[stray cat]

6. I think the idea was to send the proceeds to Haiti rather than making you feel good

[Ex Lurker]

7. I suspect the idea was actually to make the A-listers feel good

"look at me, I'm answering the phone." "Look at me, I'm singing a song." But like I said before, I'm cynical. Props to those like Clooney who actually opened their own checkbooks. As for the others...meh.

[pnorman]

8. Freek Republic seems to echo your sentiments!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2435061/posts

[Ex Lurker]

9. a stopped clock is right twice a day n/t

[monmouth]

14. Wow, they are one nasty bunch. Snide and petulant...n/t

[JI7]

15. well, the same can be said about someone who gives 100 dollars or less

whatever the case, the reason those celebs are good for this is because a lot of people will give if some big name is asking for it.

the money is being raised for a good cause. i don't think people in Haiti care about the reasons the money was given.

[alp227]

10. "Give till it hurts"? I don't remember hearing that.

All they were saying is just to join the cause. However, Americans are already giving "until it hurts" to those entertainers' (sometimes not-so-good) movies and other products.

Meanwhile, all profits from the sales of the song "Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)" (by Jay-Z, Rihanna, Bono, and The Edge) will raise money for relief efforts. See, this is an example of a celebrity whose product will actually benefit the cause.

But hey, the rich begging the poor for money? It's happened all the time...think "tax cuts for the rich".

[flamingdem]

11. Excellent reply to above !! nt

[demoleft]

12. good news. happy. n/t

[Waiting For Everyman]

13. Now let's see if it can get out to the Haitian people any faster

than up until now.

[Quantess]

16. Great!