What do you get when you mix major broadcast networks with major celebrities for an international Television event? One of the biggest showcases America has seen thus far, put on to help with the Haitian Earthquake relief effort. On Friday Jan 22nd, beginning at 8 pm ET, 11 American networks along with over 2o musical artists and many other celebrities joined together in a worldwide telethon entitled “Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief” to help raise money for the victims of the earthquake. The Event was hosted by Haitian-born entertainer Wyclef Jean in New York, along with George Clooney in Los Angeles, and CNN’s Anderson Cooper live from Haiti. The charity event included appeals for donations from many Hollywood A-listers and performances from major artists such as:
- Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, Shakira, and Sting in New York City
- Alica Keys, Dave Matthews Band, Justin Timberlake, Stevie Wonder, and Taylor Swift in Los Angelos
- Coldplay, Bono, Jay-Z, and Rhianna in London
It was quite the star studded event and the results of the telethon speak for itself. Through this international broadcast Hope for Haiti charities have reportedly raised over 58 million dollars and are still continuing to take donations. This amount sets the record for money raised by a disaster relief telethon. However, the broadcast was about much more than the performances and the money raised, it was about showing to world the great need of the Haitian people, and through the low key presentation (there was no audience present and no applause at the end of each song) this goal was achieved. The focus of the night was not the music but videos showing the destruction in Haiti and stories talking about how the Haitian people continue to grow and find hope through it all. So while the concert definitely lived up to its title, bringing hope to the Haitian people, Americans watching the program took something away from it as well: a sense of sheer admiration and sympathy for the Haitian people.