'Hope for Haiti' Telethon Airs on Planet Green, Makes History

In a matter of days, more than 100 musicians and other stars signed on to help raise money for earthquake relief.

The "Hope for Haiti" telethon aired Friday, Jan. 22 from 8-10 p.m. on Planet Green and many other networks. The superstars came out for this one, asking everyone to contribute over the phone, text or Web to help the people affected by the Jan. 12 Haiti earthquake. Those on the bill included Wyclef Jean, Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Shakira, and Sting.

More stars in the Hope for Haiti Telethon

And that was just the musicians who appeared live in New York City. Altogether, more than 100 film, television and music stars were involved. In Los Angeles, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Stevie Wonder and Taylor Swift were scheduled to participate. There also was a group performance on the bill by country's Keith Urban, Detroit's Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow.

In London, Coldplay were to perform, and a group performance by U2's Bono and The Edge along with Jay-Z and Rihanna. Jay-Z is among artists that support Music for Relief, which is also raising money for Haiti.

How to donate to the Hope for Haiti Telethon

“Hope for Haiti Now” accepted donations over the phone (with top celebrities from Mel Gibson to Ewan McGregor to Alyssa Milano and many others answering the calls. With the telethon over you can continue to donate to Hope For Haiti Now, by visiting their Website at hopeforhaitinow.org or sending via post to: 

Hope For Haiti Now Fund
Entertainment Industry Foundation
1201 West 5th Street, Suite T-700
Los Angeles, CA 90017 

You can download all the telethon performances from the iTunes Store, with proceeds benefiting charities including the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, the United Nations World Food Programme, Oxfam America, Partners in Health, the Red Cross, Unicef, and Wyclef Jean's Yele Haiti Foundation.

The headline says "makes history," because the "Hope for Haiti" benefit was to be the most widely distributed telethon in history, on TV and the internet.

And take note of the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund. Here, we have George W. Bush and Bill Clinton working together. Everything is possible.

Get complete coverage of the crisis in Haiti and find out how you can help.

  Article by Jeff Kart Courtesy of Planet Green