'Hope for Haiti' - $58M and counting
Donations to be accepted for six more months
January 23, 2010, 10:49 p.m.
STAFF REPORT
Friday night's star-studded "Hope for Haiti" telethon has raised a record-breaking $58 million, with more donations continuing to pour in, the benefit's organizers announced Saturday.
The preliminary figure is a record for donations made by the public through a disaster relief telethon, according to a news release from telethon organizers.
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The "Hope for Haiti Now" album, a compilation of the night's musical performances made available on Apple's iTunes, was the No. 1 album in 18 countries Saturday.
Sales figures for iTunes are still being calculated, and the preliminary figure of $58 million does not include donations from corporations or large private donors.
People will be able to make donations to "Hope for Haiti" via phone, Web, text messaging and regular mail for the next six months, according to the news release.
An emotional performance by Alicia Keys opened Friday night's telethon, and actor George Clooney, serving as the Los Angeles host for the event, made the first appeal for donations to raise money for relief efforts after last week's devastating earthquake.
"The Haitian people need our help," Clooney said. "They need to know they are not alone. They need to know that we still care."
The show was one of the most widely distributed prime-time televised benefits in history, appearing simultaneously on more than 25 networks.
More than 100 actors, musicians and other celebrities answered phones in New York and Los Angeles after professional operators first talked to donors.