January 22, 2010 | Read Time: 1 minute
Haiti Telethon Could Lead to a Spike in Fund Raising
Tonight’s telethon for Haiti – which will air on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, MTV, and more than 30 other stations – could bring another windfall for a handful of charities operating in the earthquake-devastated nation. (See The Chronicle’s tally of gifts to the earthquake relief effort.)
A 2004 telethon on NBC for tsunami relief raised $18.3-million, while one held in the wake of September 11 brought in more than $150-million.
“We wouldn’t want to speculate,” said Mark Jafar, a spokesperson for MTV, which is sponsoring the event. “But we’re expecting a good audience and some awesome performances.”
Money raised will first go to the Entertainment Industry Foundation, a nonprofit group that works with the entertainment industry to encourage giving. The organization will then distribute it among seven charities.
They are: the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, UNICEF, the American Red Cross, Yele Haiti, the World Food Program, Oxfam America, and Partners in Health.
How much each group receives will be at the discretion of the Entertainment Industry Foundation.
None of the money raised will go toward covering the costs of the event, according to Mr. Jafar. MTV, which is sponsoring the event, is covering some expenses and the performers are donating their time, he said.
Donors will be encouraged to give online, by calling a toll-free number, and via text message. Donations will be accepted for three months.
