According to the Associated Press, American Idol has distributed more than 64 million dollars in grants to six US and international charities from contributions raised during last spring’s Idol Gives Back special. Grants have been made to The Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria; Malaria No More; Children’s Health Fund; U.S. programs of Save the Children; Children’s Defense Fund; and Make It Right, Pitt’s campaign to help New Orleans recover from Hurricane Katrina.
The first IGB, broadcast last year, raised over 75 million dollars. Lots of money going to good charities. Good work!
However, the producers may be taking a break next year:
“I would like to take a break, personally, ” said FremantleMedia North America CEO Cecile Frot-Coutaz in May. “In the U.K., they do ‘Comic Relief’ every two years. I think that’s the right amount of time. I don’t think you should go back to the country and ask them to donate every single year. I think it’s too much. Every two years to me feels right.”
The Frot-Coutaz quote is six months old. I wonder how she feels now? If they do mount the fundraiser again, they’d be lucky to raise 65 million dollars with the state of the economy these days.
Since all that do-gooding failed to translate into an Emmy win, maybe it is time to take a break…
ETA: David Cook, Carrie Underwood, David Beckham, Bono, and Annie Lennox, participated in officially handing and accepting checks on behalf of Idol Gives Back charities. David Cook handed out a $10 million check to David Beckham on behalf of Malaria No More, while Carrie Underwood presented a $10 million check to the Save the Children fund.
Watch the video after the JUMP…
