George Clooney's Haiti telethon shatters records

Jan 25, 2010 10:00 AM by Vicki Salemi

Posted in Entertainment / Celebrity Gossip

58 Million Reasons For Haiti Hope

The Haiti telethon, a brainchild of host George Clooney, has raised $58 million thus far. This shatters all records for the most money a telethon has ever raised. Move over, Jerry Lewis, there's a new master of the telethon in Hollywood.

As the star-studded event portrayed a somber feeling, musical guests weren't introduced with any fanfare. Rather, Madonna was on stage singing Like a Prayer along with a back-up choir; Chris Martin of Coldplay crooned at the piano, and Jennifer Hudson did her best rendition of the Beatles' Let it Be.

George Clooney's Haiti telethon breaks fundraising records

The inspirational music acts ranged from Haitian musician Wyclef Jean, Mary J Blige to a trio including Bono, Rihanna and Jay-Z.

Meanwhile, celebs like Julia Roberts, Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Aniston, and Steven Spielberg spoke to callers as they opened the goodness of their hearts and wallets to Haitian relief.

Christina sings for Haiti As the George Clooney-organized Hope for Haiti Now: a Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief telethon aired on countless networks such as MTV, NBC, ABC, Fox, and more, Anderson Cooper reported on the front lines in Haiti.

The worldwide benefit was hosted by Wyclef Jean in New York and Clooney in Los Angeles as legends took to the stage for their effort in goodwill. And even though the telethon is over from its primetime two hour special, funds are still pouring in. All of the musical performances from the event are available for 99-cents per song through the iTunes store.

All of the proceeds will benefit Haiti through the Hope for Haiti Now charities.

Read on for more Haiti news

Haiti: How you can help
Hope for Haiti Now takes over TV
Charity single coming for Haiti from Simon Cowell

Tags: celebrity news george clooney haiti hope for haiti now julia rorberts

Comments

Comments on "George Clooney's Haiti telethon shatters records"

Well in response to all of you I want you to know that our country didn't just have an earthquake that KILLED hundreds of people. Also any money we do make even if it's only like 3k a year is a lot more than about 90 percent of the people in Haiti

America, time to realize that the homeless are not going away and we must join people like Reverend Trey Noran and do our part to feed and shelter the many that have nothing. It is VERY TRUE we are one pay-check away from being homeless. Last year here in Philly it was said that 3,000 workers became homeless due to lost of employment. Entertainers we put you where you are today, give back to the people here in the great USA. Tim Brooklyn.

Enough Is Enough. Ok, the United States has raised over 528 Million (Headline) â€œHelp Haiti Exceed $528-Million, Chronicle Tally in Philly. â€œ Now we did more than any other country and itâ€™s time to collaborate right in the United States and help clean up our own backyard. There is a Reverend, named Trey Noran in the Denver area that has a desire to open two homeless hotels, his web site Hislovestreetministries I read and heard of this man from face book and just last evening on WCAN Radio. My suggestion is that George Clooney followers and other Stars assist Reverend Noran right here in this country. Dr. Sophia Hudson

Shame on you America: the only country where we have homeless without shelter, children going to bed without eating, elderly going without needed meds, and mentally ill without treatment - yet we have a benefit for the people of Haiti on 12 TV stations. 99% of people won't have the guts to copy and repost this. I DID