"Hope for Haiti Now" Telethon Raises $57M

(CBS/AP)  Updated at 7:24 p.m. ET

Organizers for the all-star "Hope for Haiti Now" telethon say the event raised $57 million - and counting.

"The public has set a new standard of giving for a relief telethon with 'Hope for Haiti Now,' and the donations continue to come in," Lisa Paulsen, president and CEO of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, said in a statement released Saturday. The group is helping to oversee the funds gathered from the event.

The two-hour telethon aired Friday night on the major networks and dozens of other channels, including MTV, Bravo, and PBS, and was also streamed live online. Stars like Brad Pitt, Beyonce, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen and more used their presence to encourage donations for Haiti, following a Jan. 12 earthquake that killed an estimated 200,000 people.

Complete Coverage: Devastation in Haiti

The total released Saturday includes money raised by phone, text and the Web. It does not include donations by corporations or via iTunes, where people are able to buy performances of the event for 99 cents each, or the entire album for $7.99. Those funds also go to Haiti relief.

The "Hope for Haiti Now" CD is the biggest one-day pre-order in the site's history and the new song "Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)" by Jay-Z, Rihanna, Bono and the Edge, debuted during the telethon, is the No. 1 single on iTunes.

People can donate via text, phone or through the "Hope for Haiti" Web site for the next six months. Among the organizations who will receive funds from the telethon include Oxfam America, UNICEF, and the Clinton-Bush Haiti Foundation.

[billy3700]

This is so bad I don?t think we even know how to comprehend what is happening over there. You know we are so used to the ?Hollywood Disasters? that we forget that a disaster in real life lasts more than 2 hours! And those who survived will never be the same again. But whatever you wanna say about Movie Stars and Celebrities when it comes to this Haiti appeal they really are doing good?we can be proud. This really brought it Home to me?
<a href="http://ketiva.com/News_and_Events/life_for_haiti.html">http://ketiva.com/News_and_Events/life_for_haiti.html</a>

[coley2010]

I think we need to help our own people and country first....Sending money we dont have is no right. Especially in the Economic status we are in as a country we dont even have the money to send 100 million. That money could be used for the hard working men and women in this country. There are just as many people here that are starving and homeless....just like there are many in New Orleans that are still homeless! I believe in helping others but first we definately need to help our country and it people.

[slappytheclown]

Are you kidding me? 57 million? Is that it? These all-star things drive me crazy!! How much have those philanthropist celebrities given out of their pockets? Will they actually be sacrificing their latest shopping spree, or their stylists or anything in lieu of donating to Haiti? With 4 kids and a middle class income, when we donate money (which we have) we go without. What is their equivalent to my $100 on our salary? These people have private jets, stylists, you name it. They do this gig once in a while and think they feel better about themselves. $57 million. That is how much those stars should have donated by themselves alone.

[hockeymom441]

I totally agree! I mean it's great they're helping w/ the telethon; but it's a joke that between them they can't raise 100 million easily by donating themselves. The Jolie-Pitt's gave 1 million the first day w/o blinking.

As an aside - Meg Ryan should ask her plastic surgeon for a refund and use that money. Whew! She looks scary. Lay off the fillers, Meg!

[slappytheclown]

Are you kidding me? 57 million? Is that it? These all-star things drive me crazy!! How much have those philanthropist celebrities given out of their pockets? Will they actually be sacrificing their latest shopping spree, or their stylists or anything in lieu of donating to Haiti? With 4 kids and a middle class income, when we donate money (which we have) we go without. What is their equivalent to my $100 on our salary? These people have private jets, stylists, you name it. They do this gig once in a while and think they feel better about themselves. $57 million. That is how much those stars should have donated by themselves alone.

[bertiebon22]

Confusing to me that our government, our media and numerous charitable organizations are so actively involved in the need to help the Haitians considering that our government, our media and multiple charitable organizations stood silent during the genocide in Gaza one year ago. Not to mention the false reporting from the media. I dont remember any assistance to their dire situation. Their situation was actually much worse than what it is in Haiti, and these 1500 plus people were innocent people who some, were illegally and deliberately poisioned with white phosphorus which is manufactured here in the good ol USA.

I help those who are abandoned by the rest of society.

[thekoha]

clemson,

i can't see any "leftist political agenda" or any "church agenda" or any "right wing political agenda" having anything to do with good folks donating time, resources, talent and money to those in need. get off your soapbox and join humanity...

[retm-w]

Funny we can raise $57 million for Haiti, but our charities at home are crying for donations. Shelters for the homeless are at over capacity, food banks are empty, and they wouldn't bother to put on a telethon for that. I feel for the people of Haiti, but what about our own poor and homeless.

[schabadoo]

----I'll give through my local church, thank you very much. That way I know the aid goes directly to help victims and not to supporting or endorsing the leftist political agenda.---

Going for irony?

[thekoha]

clemson,

kudos to you for your donation. your comments regarding the donations from the telethon possibly going to support or endorse any agenda besides the help to a devistated, empoverished nation though is cynical and misguided and typical of the type of tripe that separates rather than unifies our country.

[Clemsson]

I didn't give a cent through this group.

It seems the event had as much to do with advocating leftist politics as it did raising charitable funds for quake victims.

I'll give through my local church, thank you very much. That way I know the aid goes directly to help victims and not to supporting or endorsing the leftist political agenda.

[hockeymom441]

No one want your hate money, you miserable wretch. 200k+ people died - leave politics aside for one minute. If you were a member of my church, I'd be humiliated to read such a nasty note about something that is truly good.