AMERICAN IDOL will once again host IDOL GIVES BACK, the Emmy Award-winning television event and musical celebration raising awareness and funds to benefit various U.S. and international charities, during the Top 7 Results Show Wednesday, April 21 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. Children's Health Fund, Feeding America, Malaria No More, Save the Children's U.S. Programs and the United Nations Foundation are confirmed beneficiaries.
"I am very pleased to announce that we will be doing our third IDOL GIVES BACK on April 21, 2010," said Simon Fuller, IDOL creator and CEO of 19 Entertainment. "This is our opportunity to reach out and support the people of America and around the world who need our compassion and generosity to improve or even save their lives. America will undoubtedly prove once again what a remarkable and generous nation it is. For AMERICAN IDOL to be able to facilitate this kind of initiative makes me very proud."
"In today's tough economic times, it's more important than ever - but more difficult than ever - to raise money to help those in need," said Mike Darnell, President of Alternative Entertainment, Fox Broadcasting Company. "With this year's IDOL GIVES BACK, we're focused on raising awareness about the challenges that so many children and families currently face and demonstrating how even small donations can make a difference and help save lives. Every little bit counts."
"There's never been a more important and appropriate time to give what we can to help those less fortunate," said Cecile Frot-Coutaz, executive producer of AMERICAN IDOL. "We all have less to give, and we may not raise as much as in previous years, but with the power of the IDOL platform and the generosity of our viewers, we hope to extend a much-needed compassionate hand to those children and families who need us the most in these trying economic times."
IDOL GIVES BACK has made history by raising over $140 million for charity to date. Viewers will once again be able to make donations during and following the show. In addition, the week's voting results will be revealed, sending one of the finalists home.
The brainchild of Simon Fuller, this year's special will feature performances and appearances by some of Hollywood's biggest stars - as well as a few surprises - live from the AMERICAN IDOL stage. In previous years, IDOL GIVES BACK has welcomed President Barack Obama, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, former President George W. Bush, Brad Pitt, Bono, Reese Witherspoon, Miley Cyrus, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Annie Lennox, Daughtry, Carrie Underwood, Mariah Carey, Gwen Stefani, Josh Groban, Pink, Céline Dion, Robin Williams, Ben Stiller and others.
Funds raised by the charity special will be distributed by the IDOL GIVES BACK Foundation to the following beneficiaries:
Children's Health Fund (www.childrenshealthfund.org)
Founded in 1987 by singer/songwriter Paul Simon and pediatrician/advocate Irwin Redlener, MD, Children's Health Fund (CHF) is the nation's leading pediatric provider of mobile-based health care for homeless and low-income children and their families. CHF's mission is to bring health care directly to those in need through the development and support of innovative medical programs, response to public health crises, and the promotion of guaranteed access to health care for all children. Teams of dedicated medical professionals in CHF's 24 pediatric programs in 15 states and the District of Columbia have brought essential primary care services through more than 2 million patient visits.
Feeding America (www.feedingamerica.org)
Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, our network members supply food to more than 25 million Americans each year, including 9 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 63,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms. Feeding America is headquartered in Chicago.
Malaria No More (www.malarianomore.org)
Malaria No More is determined to end malaria deaths in Africa. Every 45 seconds, a child in Africa dies of this preventable and treatable disease, but a simple mosquito net can save lives. Malaria No More leverages breakthrough communications, global advocacy and smart investments to reach its goal of providing universal access to malaria interventions by the end of 2010 and ending deaths by 2015. Through the support of IDOL GIVES BACK, Malaria No More has helped millions of families in Africa protect themselves from malaria in Uganda, Zambia, Angola, Madagascar, Mali, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In addition, generous sponsorship of IDOL GIVES BACK from ExxonMobil helped Malaria No More strengthen country capacity and improve the delivery and use of malaria interventions in Africa. Together, we can make malaria no more.
Save the Children (www.savethechildren.org)
Save the Children is the leading independent organization creating real and lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world. Save the Children's U.S. Programs focus on underserved rural areas, where one in five children lives in poverty. Partnering with schools and community organizations, Save the Children provides high-quality early childhood education services for children from birth to age five as well as literacy, physical activity and nutrition programs for children in kindergarten through eighth grade, benefiting over 52,000 children nationwide. Save the Children's work in the United States also includes emergency preparedness, response and recovery. When a disaster strikes, Save the Children deploys trained teams to help displaced children and families and provide more secure environments. In addition, Save the Children works with local, state and national governments to ensure that the unique needs of children are integral in emergency response plans.
United Nations Foundation (www.unfoundation.org)
The United Nations Foundation, a public charity, was created in 1998 with entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner's historic $1 billion gift to support UN causes and activities. The UN Foundation is an advocate for the UN and a platform for connecting people, ideas, and resources to help the United Nations solve global problems. The UN Foundation's work is focused on decreasing child mortality, improving disaster relief, protecting diverse cultures and environments, creating a clean energy future, empowering women and girls and improving U.S.-UN relations.
AMERICAN IDOL is created and executive-produced by Simon Fuller, founder of 19 Entertainment; and executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia North America; and Ken Warwick, executive producer, FremantleMedia North America. The series features host Ryan Seacrest and judges Simon Cowell, Randy Jackson, Kara DioGuardi and Ellen DeGeneres.
Visit americanidol.com for more information on IDOL GIVES BACK in addition to exclusive videos, photos, special behind-the-scenes information and all of your AMERICAN IDOL news.
