'American Idol' Raised $76-Million for Poverty Relief; Second Effort Will Be Broadcast This Week

April 07, 2008

'American Idol' Raised $76-Million for Poverty Relief; Second Effort Will Be Broadcast This Week

The television show American Idol raised $76-million for charity last year and is planning on Wednesday to broadcast a second effort to raise money, notes The New York Times.

Most of the money raised last year has gone to organizations that fight poverty in the United States and Africa, the newspaper said, based on interviews with recipients of the money. The Charity Projects Entertainment Fund, which oversaw the distribution of the money, was not able to provide details because its financial statements were being audited, the newspaper said. A new group called Idol Gives Back, which is controlled by the producers of the program, will distribute the money raised through the program broadcast on Wednesday.

Last year’s “Idol Gives Back” broadcast collected $55-million from at-home viewers who called in, $14-million from corporations, and $7-million in matching grants from businesses and foundations.

Some $5-million of that money, or 7 percent, went to covering administrative costs. Of the rest, $68-million has been pledged to nine groups, which collectively received half that total last year and will receive the rest this year. Six groups will receive the money raised in 2008.

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Comments

I think the ‘Idol Gives Back’ fundraising program and efforts are to be applauded! But,
as a fundraiser myself, I would personally like to see more accountability as to how much and where are the dollars being used and spreadout between the US and oversees. We should focus our help & philanthropy here in the US first before solving all of the worlds problems. Accountability for the distribution of dollars also seems to become more difficult the farther away funds are to be utilized. God knows we have enough problems and needs for
help right here in the good old USA especially here in Michigan.

— Roger Soloway Apr 7, 02:30 PM #
I praise the efforts of idols give back,please may i know some of the Africa beneficiaries.Am from East Africa Kenya

— Victoria - Kenya Apr 8, 12:37 AM #
Can anyone explain the viewer demographic of AI? I was surprised to see the low corporate funder numbers. It seems incongruous to me that they could raise that kind of money from their viewing audience. How old are the individual donors from which AI could raise $50M+???

— Joyce S. Apr 11, 10:34 AM #

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