'Hope For Haiti Now' Sets New Record for Disaster Relief Telethon

NEW YORK, LOS ANGELES, AND LONDON, Jan. 23 /PRNewswire / -- With donations continuing to come in from around the world, "Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief" today announced that it has raised more than $57 million to date, a new telethon record for donations by the general public .  The preliminary figure includes donations made via phone, online, and mobile.  The preliminary figure does not include donations by corporations and large private donors, or iTunes sales figures, all of which are still being calculated.

"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 – people can still contribute 24/7 via phone, web and text," said Lisa Paulsen, President & CEO of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing philanthropic support to "Hope for Haiti Now" to ensure proper fiduciary oversight and administration of all donated funds.

Additionally, the "Hope for Haiti Now" album is the biggest one-day album pre-order in iTunes history and is currently the number one iTunes album in 18 countries. The studio version of "Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)," the original track performed by Bono, The Edge, Jay-Z, and Rihanna during "Hope for Haiti Now," is currently the #1 song on iTunes in 12 countries.

"Hope for Haiti Now" will continue accepting donations for six months via the following methods:

• Online: www.hopeforhaitinow.org
• Phone: 877-99-HAITI
• Text: Text "GIVE" to 50555
• Mail: Hope For Haiti Now Fund, Entertainment Industry Foundation,

1201 West 5th Street, Suite T-700, Los Angeles, CA 90017

“Hope for Haiti Now,” benefits Oxfam America, Partners in Health, the Red Cross, UNICEF, United Nations World Food Programme, Yele Haiti Foundation, and the newly formed Clinton Bush Haiti Foundation.  Proceeds from “Hope for Haiti Now” will be split among each organization’s individual funds for Haiti earthquake relief.  With the exception of the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, each partner organization was selected for its history of operation and collaboration within the nongovernmental organization (NGO) community in Haiti.

"Hope for Haiti Now" was led by Wyclef Jean in New York City, George Clooney in Los Angeles, and CNN's Anderson Cooper reporting from Haiti, and featured performances by Wyclef Jean, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Shakira, and Sting in New York City; Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift, Emeline Michel and a group performance by Keith Urban, Kid Rock, and Sheryl Crow in Los Angeles; and Beyonce, Coldplay, and a group performance by Bono, The Edge, Jay-Z, and Rihanna in London.

"Hope for Haiti Now" also featured appearances by President Bill Clinton, Ben Stiller, Brad Pitt, Chris Rock, Clint Eastwood, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jon Stewart, Julia Roberts, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Meryl Streep, Morgan Freeman, Nicole Kidman, Robert Pattinson, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Hanks, and Muhammad Ali.  More than one hundred of the biggest names in film, television, and music also supported "Hope for Haiti Now" by answering phones and taking donations.

"Hope for Haiti Now" was produced by Joel Gallen and Tenth Planet Productions, in collaboration with Viacom's MTV Networks and George Clooney.

About MTV Networks

MTV Networks, a division of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world's leading creators of entertainment content, with brands that engage and connect diverse audiences across television, online, mobile, games, virtual worlds and consumer products. The company's portfolio spans more than 150 television channels and 400 digital media properties worldwide, and includes MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, Harmonix, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Nick Jr., TeenNick, AddictingGames, Neopets, COMEDY CENTRAL, SPIKE, TV Land, Atom, GameTrailers, and Xfire.

SOURCE MTV Networks