'Hope for Haiti Now' Hits $66 Million Mark
January 27 2010 - 3:19PM
PR Newswire (US)
'Hope for Haiti Now' First-Ever Digital-Only Album to Debut at No.
1 in the U.S.; Album Purchased for Download More Than 171,000 Times
through Sunday Advisory Committee Announced for 'Hope for Haiti
Now' Fund; First Installment of Fund Set for Distribution Next Week
NEW YORK, Jan. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- "Hope for Haiti Now" today
announced that it has raised more than $66 million to date for
Haiti relief and recovery efforts. The figure includes proceeds
from sales of the "Hope for Haiti Now" album, a collection of live
performances from last week's global telethon that today became the
first-ever digital-only album to debut at no. 1 on the Billboard
200. According to Nielsen SoundScan, "Hope for Haiti Now" was
purchased for download more than 171,000 times in the United States
through Sunday, January 24. The album sold an additional 60,000
copies outside of the U.S. through Sunday. "Hope for Haiti Now"
also sold 300,000 individual audio performances as well as 15,000
downloads of the full two-hour video telecast through Sunday. The
album has hit no. 1 on iTunes in 18 countries, and "Hope for Haiti
Now" is the first project to simultaneously reach the No. 1 spot on
the U.S. iTunes album, song ("Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)" by Jay-Z,
Bono, The Edge and Rihanna), and television charts. All retail
partners, the record labels, and the artists will donate their
share of the proceeds to Haiti relief and recovery funds managed by
"Hope for Haiti Now" charities. Performances are available for
purchase on iTunes, AmazonMP3, Rhapsody, and Napster. All
distribution is provided by INgrooves. "Hope for Haiti Now"
Advisory Committee Formed "Hope for Haiti Now" today also announced
the formation of an Advisory Committee to oversee the distribution
of funds donated through the global telethon. The Entertainment
Industry Foundation, in concert with the Committee, is advising
"Hope for Haiti Now" to ensure that the donated funds are quickly
and effectively put to use in Haiti. The first installment of
donated funds is due for distribution next week. The Committee is
comprised of the following recognized and distinguished leaders in
philanthropy, nonprofit oversight, and Haiti relief: -- Diana Aviv,
President & CEO, Independent Sector -- Brian Concannon, Jr.,
Esq., Director, Institute for Justice and Democracy in Haiti --
William Foster, Co-Partner, The Bridgespan Group -- Steven
Gunderson, President & CEO, The Council on Foundations -- Nancy
Lindborg, President, Mercy Corps -- Jacques-Philippe Piverger,
PineBridge Investments -- Judith Rodin, Ph.D., President, The
Rockefeller Foundation -- David Saltzman, Executive Director, Robin
Hood Foundation This week, each beneficiary organization is
submitting to "Hope for Haiti Now" its plans for use of funds
donated through the telethon, its key partners, and its goals and
measurement for success. The Advisory Committee is meeting this
week to review the information from partner charities and help
"Hope for Haiti Now" begin to distribute funds next week. The
Committee will also provide recommendations on maintaining the due
diligence process and continued oversight as "Hope for Haiti Now"
continues to distribute funds to its partner charities. "The
outpouring of generosity around "Hope for Haiti Now" is truly
remarkable, and I look forward to helping ensure that generosity
has a direct and measureable impact on the relief and recovery
efforts in Haiti," said Steven Gunderson, President & CEO of
the Council on Foundations. "Our top priority is ensuring that
proceeds from the telethon are distributed as quickly, responsibly
and effectively as possible. We are pleased to have individuals
with such extraordinary expertise on our Advisory Committee to help
facilitate the process," said Lisa Paulsen, President & CEO of
the Entertainment Industry Foundation, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization providing philanthropic support to "Hope for Haiti
Now." "Hope for Haiti Now," benefits the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund,
Oxfam America, Partners in Health, the Red Cross, UNICEF, United
Nations World Food Programme, and Yele Haiti Foundation. With the
exception of the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, each organization was
selected for its history of operation and collaboration within the
nongovernmental organization (NGO) community in Haiti. "Hope for
Haiti Now" will continue accepting donations for six months via the
following methods: -- Online: http://www.hopeforhaitinow.org/ --
Phone: 877-99-HAITI -- Text: Text "GIVE" to 50555 -- Mail: Hope for
Haiti Now, FILE 1372, 1801 West Olympic Blvd. / Pasadena,
California 91199-1372 "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:VIANYSE: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. DATASOURCE: MTV Networks CONTACT: Carole
Robinson, +1-212-846-8760, , or Mark Jafar, +1-212-846-8961, Web
Site: http://www.hopeforhaitinow.org/
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