Hollywood heavyweights including Jack Nicholson, Julia Roberts, and Steven Spielberg handled the phones for the 2 hour telecast, which was aired simultaneously on all major networks, including CNN, as well as more than 50 domestic networks and in 60 countries. Most of the money raised came within the first 24 hours, but does not include proceeds from online music downloads of the broadcast, which featured headline performances by Wyclef Jean, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Shakira, Sting, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera and several others.
Incidentally, on the very day of the telethon, a man buried for 11 days in the wreckage of Haiti’s devastating earthquake was pulled from the rubble, just as officials said they were shifting their focus from rescue to caring for the thousands of survivors living in squalor. He’s being called “Miracle Man.”
Twenty-one-year-old Emanuel Buteau survived 10 days under the wreckage of his collapsed apartment building. He was saved Friday night by an Israeli rescue team and revived at an Israeli field hospital. “You know your survival is being called a miracle?” a news crew asked Buteau. “It’s a big miracle!” Buteau’s translator said. “He was praying to God and he was saying, ‘God, if it’s your will I will die. If it’s you will, I will survive.'”
“The public has set a new standard of giving for a relief telethon with ‘Hope for Haiti Now,'” said Lisa Paulsen, prexy and CEO of the Entertainment Industry Foundation. She is charged with ensuring immediate and proper financial oversight and administration of all donated funds.
Stuck at the airport because of storms on the east coast. So commenting early today.LOVED the Haiti telethon the other night. I even donated $50.00 to the fund. But I heard something about the Yele fund that it's some type of scam or they're in some trouble. I see it as a suggested donation link. What do you know about it DJ?