"THE CELEBRITY APPRENTICE" BREAKS SERIES RECORD WITH OVER $1.6 MILLION RAISED FOR CHARITY IN A SINGLE NON-FINALE EPISODE
New York, NY - April 4, 2011 - Last night's episode of "The Celebrity Apprentice" featured a series first when the two competing teams, A.S.A.P. and Backbone, raised a combined $1.6 million dollars for charity. This marks the most money ever raised in a non-finale episode of the hit series.
"I am so proud of Marlee, John and the rest of this season's stellar cast," said Donald Trump, Host and Executive Producer of "The Celebrity Apprentice." "'The Celebrity Apprentice' raising over $1.6 million dollars for charity during a single task is an amazing accomplishment and milestone. We're excited to make the donation to The Starkey Hearing Foundation and The St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital on behalf of Marlee, John and the show."
Marlee Matlin lead Team A.S.A.P. to victory as the Project Manager when the teams were given the task of creating and selling their own works of art for charity. Matlin and Team A.S.A.P. raised a whopping $986,000 during the task itself. In the boardroom, Donald Trump generously added an additional $14,000 to make it an even $1,000,000 donated to Matlin's charity, The Starkey Hearing Foundation, an organization that promotes hearing health awareness while supporting research and education. "What a great victory for the kids!" exclaimed Maitlin. "But it doesn't stop here. I look forward to continuing to prove that I am worthy of the title of 'Celebrity Apprentice,' raising even more money and focusing more attention on the needs of millions of deaf and hard of hearing kids out there who are waiting for the gift of hearing."
"As a long-time friend and partner to the Foundation, we'd like to thank Marlee for making us her charity of choice on this season's 'The Celebrity Apprentice' and for helping to make us the proud beneficiary of the most monies raised in the show's history," said Bill Austin, Chief Executive Officer of Starkey Laboratories and Founder of the Starkey Hearing Foundation. "By providing the gift of hearing to those who need it, the Foundation is able to reconnect individuals to their families, communities and the world. These monies will go a long way in allowing us to fulfill that mission."
Although the women were victorious, Project Manager John Rich and the men's team raised $626,908 in artwork sales. In another first for the series, Rich was able to donate the profits raised by the losing team to his charity, The St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. "My reason for doing 'The Celebrity Apprentice' was simple; I wanted to raise more money than anyone in the history of the show for the Kids at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital," said Rich. "Raising over $600,000 for those kids is something I am incredibly proud of."
"The Celebrity Apprentice" is produced by Mark Burnett in association with Trump Productions LLC. Mark Burnett, Donald Trump, Eden Gaha and Page Feldman are executive producers. Nancy Gunn is the co- executive producer.
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