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American Idol Viewers Helping Thousands of U.S. Children in Need
Simon Fuller's Idol Gives Back Announces $10 Million Grant for Save the Children's U.S. Programs
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American Idol's Randy Jackson and 6-year-old Terrance browse the contents of a Save the Children emotional support kit in New Orleans. |
WASHINGTON, DC (Nov. 12, 2008) – American Idol viewers will be helping Save the Children assist thousands of children in need in some of the nation's poorest rural communities as a result of donations made last April to Idol Gives Back, FOX's Emmy Award-winning charity event.
Idol Gives Back announced today the allocation of $10 million to Save the Children's U.S. programs. The funding will support literacy, nutrition, physical activity and early childhood development programs in rural schools in nine states across the country including Arizona, Arkansas, California, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, South Carolina and Tennessee. Funding will also help the agency respond to the needs of children affected by major emergencies in the United States.
"Thanks to Simon Fuller and American Idol, we will reach tens of thousands of children across America. Children in poor, rural communities will learn to read and begin to lead healthy lives, and children's needs will be met in the aftermath of disasters," said Mark Shriver, Vice President & Managing Director of Save the Children's U.S. Programs. "Many businesses talk about giving back, but Simon and American Idol are leading the way with action and leadership."
The Idol Gives Back Foundation said it was allocating $64 million raised since April by American Idol viewers and the program's corporate sponsors. In addition to Save the Children, the foundation announced awards to the Children's Defense Fund, the Children's Health Fund, The Global Fund, Make It Right and Malaria No More. All told, Idol Gives Back has raised more than $140 million over its first two years; donations for this year will continue to be accepted online at www.americanidol.com.
American Idol star and Grammy Award-winning producer Randy Jackson, who serves as Save the Children's United States Program Ambassador, praised the award.
"I am proud to be an ambassador for Save the Children's U.S. Programs, and I am thrilled that Save the Children's U.S. Programs will benefit from Idol Gives Back," said Randy Jackson. "I visited their programs in New Orleans last year and visited Goshen, California last spring. Save the Children is doing terrific work in the poorest communities in America, teaching kids to read and to lead healthy lives. I am happy to be helping them help kids."
The announcement today marks the second consecutive year that Save the Children has benefited from Idol Gives Back. Last year Idol Gives Back provided $14.5 million in support of Save the Children programs in the United States and Africa.
"Save the Children is thrilled to receive this generous donation from Idol Gives Back," said Shriver. "FOX and American Idol deserve so much credit for raising awareness and challenging us all to get involved in the effort to eradicate poverty here in the United States."
About Save the Children's U.S. Programs
Save the Children's U.S. programs benefit more than 35,000 children a year, providing them with the tools and support they need to break the cycle of poverty. Today, when 2.6 million children in rural America are still living in poverty, and one-third of U.S. children and adolescents are either obese or at risk of becoming obese, Save the Children continues its work in some of the nation's poorest rural communities providing literacy, physical activity, nutrition and early childhood support to children in need. In addition, when a disaster strikes and significant numbers of children are at risk, Save the Children is there, responding to the needs of children and families, as well as working to promote emergency preparedness and response measures that focus on children.
About Idol Gives Back
The brainchild of Simon Fuller, Idol Gives Back has been recognized as a life-changing program, earning praise from many of the world's best known figures including President George W. Bush, HRH Prince Charles and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Last season, Idol Gives Back garnered a prestigious Governor's Award Emmy and raised more than $76 million for charity. The star-studded special featured performances from the American Idol stage, where Ryan Seacrest hosted, alongside judges Randy Jackson, Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell.
Save the Children (www.savethechildren.org) is the leading independent organization that creates lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world. Save the Children USA is a member of the International Save the Children Alliance, a global network of 27 independent Save the Children organizations working to ensure the well-being and protection of children in more than 100 countries.
