American Idol gives back
- 00:02:07
- ITN
American Idol gives back
An American Idol charity drive has given more than £30 million to charities. David Beckham, Bono, Annie Lennox and Carrie Underwood accepted the cheques on behalf as charities such as the Global Fund to Fights AIDS and the Keep A Child Alive foundation. The concept of Idol Gives Back was the brainchild of Idol creator and executive producer Simon Fuller. Beckham recieved the cheque for more than £6 million in aid of Malaria No More. He said: "I saw first hand with my visit to Sierra Leone with Unicef last year how devastating malaria can be to a country. This money will help buy millions of bed nets and also protect many people, particularly the young children who are most vulnerable. "On behalf of Malaria No More I would like to thank those people who gave so generously to Idol Gives back, your money will save lives and that is something to be very proud of." Bono received a cheque for his charity Global Fund to Fight Aids for more than £5 million and Doctor Michel Kazatchkine, part of the organisation, said all of the money donated would go to the charity. Both Bono and Lennox were given a first hand account of the debilitating effects of Aids when they went on separate journeys to Africa.
ITN | November 12, 2008
