American Idol Event to Benefit Children in Poverty

Last night on FOX's hit television show, American Idol, producers unveiled "the biggest event in Idol history." Termed "Idol Gives Back," America's favorite reality competition has teamed with the Charity Projects Entertainment Fund (CPEF) to use its success to benefit both American and African children in poverty.

On the 24^th of April, select sponsors of the show, including Coca-Cola, AT&T, and the Ford Motor Company, will donate money for every vote cast. The week's finalists will be choosing "Life Anthems," songs about hope and compassion.

The following night's results show will feature a plethora of special guests the likes of Gwen Stefani, Pink, Borat, and Annie Lennox, among others. Viewers will also be given the opportunity to personally contribute to the cause, should they wish to do so.

In the United States, proceeds will benefit Save the Children, an organization formed in 1932 to provide food and health care during the Great Depression. Save the Children attempts to tackle poverty by providing education to improve literacy and nutrition to those in need.

The American Idol judges, Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul, and Simon Cowell, along with host Ryan Seacrest, will visit areas of deprivation within the country, where one in six children are currently living in poverty.

Through this event, the show and its affiliates will make a grand attempt at shedding light upon these dire situations both at home and overseas..

In Africa, multiple charities will be receiving funds: U.S. Fund for UNICEF, Save the Children, The Global Fund, Malaria No More, and Nothing But Nets. While these charities all have their own unique credos, mainly surrounding AIDS and Malaria, the tying bind behind them all is to provide health and education initiatives.

Although some feel we should keep our charity to better the U.S., many hope this event will not only provide insight into poverty within our own country, but to also alert one of America's largest audiences of the horrors occurring an ocean away.

The CPEF website presents that every day, "3,000 children and young people die as a result of malaria and HIV/AIDS" in Africa. Almost an entire generation has disappeared due to disease, which is why it is so important to contribute to this cause. Africa's population is slowly diminishing, and American Idol producers feel it is time for us to kick in and provide treatment and prevention education to these children.

If you didn't think your vote counted before, you know it will now.