"American Idol" Gives Back

The popular Fox Reality Television show American Idol is all about realizing dreams and potential. Some people dream about becoming a pop star, while others dream about being able to provide a piece of bread for their families. There are people like this all across the world, and yes, even in the United States. On March 8, 2006 Ryan Seacrest announced during live airing of American Idol that American Idol is about to make history. The network FOX, American Idol, and an organization called CPEF have formed a partnership to create an historic television event -- Idol Gives Back. This will be a two-night special to help raise awareness and funds for children and young people in extreme poverty in America and Africa.

American Idol is partnering with their current sponsors Ford Motor Company and Coca-Cola, and is seeking other corporate sponsorships to participate in this partnership to raise money for these causes. The event will take place this April 2007. On April 24^th and 25^th, American Idol will be in the Final Six stage of the competition and voting will be at a maximum. These two live shows will be used to raise awareness of the effects of poverty on children and young people in the US and Africa. Tuesday April 24, the American voter's ballots will count more than ever. Each time a call is made, participating sponsors will make a donation to the efforts. Then, on Wednesday April 25, viewers will be treated to an incredible results show that will feature a star-studded extravaganza of celebrities and artists. Ryan Seacrest stated on Thursday March 22^nd airing that Final Six voting is estimated to be around the 60 million vote mark. If corporate sponsors were able to donate a dime to the efforts for every vote cast, funds raised would be in the $6 million figure.

On Tuesday, April 24 the Final Six will sing songs they consider to be "Life Anthems." In keeping with the IDOL GIVES BACK theme, the songs performed will be about compassion and hope. At the end of the show, viewers will vote for their favorite contestants via toll-free numbers and text messages. On this special night, however, viewers will also help change the lives of the truly needy. For each vote cast, Idol sponsors Ford Motor Company, Coca-Cola and AT&T, along with a range of additional partners, will donate money to the charity.

The special two-hour results show on Wednesday, April 25 will be a celebrity feast featuring world-renowned artists including Gwen Stefani, Josh Groban, Pink, Michael Bublé, Annie Lennox, Il Divo and popular Kazakhstan journalist Borat Sagdiyev (Sacha Baron Cohen) among many others who will take the Idol stage. During the Wednesday event, adding to the corporate contributions, viewers will be able to make their own donations via toll-free lines and the Internet.

The money raised by the two shows will benefit both the U.S. and Africa. In the United States, the money will be distributed to Save the Children and other organizations working to deliver programs to children living in some of the most disadvantaged areas of America. Save the Children is the leading independent organization creating lasting changes for children in need in the United States and around the world. It is a member of the International Save the Children Alliance, comprising 28 national Save the Children organizations working in more than 110 countries to ensure the well-being of children.

In Africa, the money will be dedicated to delivering health and education programs and will be distributed via CPEF to a number of organizations, including U.S. Fund for UNICEF, The Global Fund, Save the Children, Nothing but Nets and Malaria No More. Charity Projects Entertainment Fund, is a new charitable organization inspired by the United Kingdom charity that invented Red Nose Day, and has been established to raise money and awareness to benefit children and young people in extreme poverty in the United States and throughout the world, particularly Africa. CPEF's mission is to use the power of entertainment to drive positive change to achieve its vision of creating a just world free from poverty.

When you consider that $50 can provide a family of 5 in Africa with enough food to last for one week; $20 can cover all costs to send a child to school in an Urban Slum in Africa for a month; and $1 is the average cost of saving a life from Malaria - the estimated goal of $6 million dollars can do a lot for the people in this country and in Africa. This is a time when every vote matters, every person can contribute to making a global and monumental difference. What can you do?

- Watch the shows on April 24th and 25th.

- Vote for your favorites.

- Make a donation by visiting: http://www.americanidol.com/idolgivesback/

- Tell your friends about it and make sure they vote too!

- Use your corporation to partner with American Idol to provide monetary donations.