On Thursday’s “American Idol,” Fox plans to announce a fundraiser that should be a ratings hit as well as a canny PR move.
A two-night relief drive featuring Gwen Stefani, Josh Groban, Pink, Michael Bublé, Annie Lennox, Il Divo and Borat (Sacha Baron Cohen), titled “Idol Gives Back,” will raise money for youth living in extreme poverty in America and Africa.
Sponsors including Coca-Cola, Ford and AT&T will donate money corresponding to the number of votes for favorite singers on the April 24 and 25 telecasts.
The money raised will equally benefit the U.S. and Africa. In the U.S., the money will be distributed via Charity Project Entertainment Fund (CPEF) to Save the Children and other U.S. organizations.
U2’s Bono, co-founder of the One Campaign to Make Poverty History, was quoted as saying, “We’ll see worlds collide when Africa appears on America’s most-watched TV show. This is a big deal, a little bit of pop history … I wouldn’t underestimate the reach of this show or the impact its audience can have.”
