|
"HURRICANE SANDY: COMING TOGETHER" GENERATES NEARLY $23 MILLION FOR THE AMERICAN RED CROSS
Benefit Telethon Generates Record Volume of Individual Donations For Hurricane Sandy Victims
NEW
YORK, November 3, 2012 - The American Red Cross and NBCUniversal announced
today that "Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together," a live, one-hour benefit
telethon, generated nearly $23 million in support of victims impacted by
Hurricane Sandy. A record number of individual donations by phone, text and
online were accepted by the American Red Cross during the 8:00 p.m. - 12:00
a.m. time period beginning on Friday, November 2, 2012. The volume of website
and phone traffic exceeded previous benefit telethons in support of the
American Red Cross over the last five years.
"We are incredibly grateful and humbled by this outpouring of support for those
who are suffering as a result of Superstorm Sandy," said American Red Cross
Chief Marketing Officer Peggy Dyer. "Our preliminary results of nearly
$23 million raised are an extraordinary example of how the American people pull
together in times of disaster. Their generous donations will go directly to
those in need, and we urge the public to continue to give. We also thank the
dedicated and talented team at NBCUniversal for the millions of people they
have helped through this telethon."
Hosted by NBC "Today" anchor Matt Lauer, the live telethon featured
performances by Christina Aguilera (NBC's "The Voice"), Mary J. Blige, Jon Bon
Jovi, Billy Joel, Joe Perry, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Sting and
Steven Tyler as well as appearances by Kevin Bacon, Jimmy Fallon (NBC's "Late
Night with Jimmy Fallon"), Tina Fey, Whoopi Goldberg, Jon Stewart and NBC News'
Brian Williams.
Performances
included: Jimmy Fallon with Steven Tyler and Bruce Springsteen on vocals and
Billy Joel on piano for a rendition of "Under the Boardwalk;" Christina
Aguilera of "Beautiful;" Jon Bon Jovi of a medley of "Who Says You Can't Go
Home" and "Living on a Prayer;" Billy Joel of "Miami 2017;" Mary J. Blige of "Living
Proof;" Sting of "Message in a Bottle;" Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of "Dream
On;" Bruce Springsteen of "Land of Hope and Dreams."
"Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together" will be available online through the weekend
across NBCUniversal digital properties including NBC.com, g4tv.com and
nbcnews.com as well as on Xfinity.com/tv and Hulu. Comcast cable markets are
also offering the telethon on Xfinity On Demand throughout the weekend. The
telethon is also available on demand from over 40 cable, satellite and telco
operators including AT&T, Cox Communications, DIRECTV, Time Warner Cable
and Verizon FiOS, among others.
The benefit telethon was broadcast Friday, November 2, 8:00 - 9:00 p.m. ET live
from the New York studios of NBC at 30 Rockefeller Plaza across the
NBCUniversal networks including: NBC, Bravo, CNBC, E!, G4, MSNBC, NBC Sports
Network, Style, Syfy and USA as well as HBO, Discovery's Fit & Health and
Velocity networks, The Weather Channel and Wealth TV. The NBC Owned and some
affiliate television stations live-streamed the telethon on their websites.
Comcast's xfinity.com/TV, Hulu and more than 100 Gannett-owned websites,
including usatoday.com, live streamed the telethon, along with multiple
NBCUniversal digital properties, including: NBC.com, Fandango, iVillage,
g4tv.com, nbcnews.com and weather.com.
Clear Channel radio stations, along with a number of local radio stations from
across the Tri-State area, simulcast coverage of the event.
The American Red Cross response to Sandy is very large and will be very costly,
affecting a massive area spanning much of the eastern half of the country.
Financial donations help the American Red Cross provide shelter, food,
emotional support and other assistance to those affected by disasters like
Hurricane Sandy. To donate, people can visit www.redcross.org, call
1-800-HELPNOW or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
####
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to
victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches
skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports
military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit
organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American
public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org
or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.
|
