Business Unit News
Idol Gives Back Kicks Off with Performance by Kris Allen During American Idol Results Show Benefiting UN Foundation Fund for Haiti Thursday, February 25th, On FOX
News Corporation, Ford Motor Company, Coca-Cola, AT&T and ExxonMobil Return as Corporate Sponsors of Idol Gives Back Airing Wednesday, April 21, on FOX
Los Angeles, CA (February 17, 2010) – American Idol’s Kris
Allen will travel to Haiti with the United Nations Foundation to raise further
awareness of the country’s continuing needs after last month’s earthquake.
During the Idol results show on Thursday, Feb. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET
live/PT tape-delayed), Allen will perform and will share footage of his trip to
raise awareness and funds that will benefit those in need via one of this year’s
Idol Gives Back beneficiaries, the UN Foundation.
During the show, viewers will be asked to support the efforts in Haiti by
donating much-needed funds. Donations will be accepted online and via
text-messaging, and proceeds will go to the Idol Gives Back Foundation
to help the UN Foundation and their work in Haiti.
“It is heartbreaking to see the devastation that Haiti is
currently facing,” said Allen. “I am truly honored to be
traveling to Haiti to see the UN’s relief efforts firsthand and
to help out in any way that I can.”
“We are proud to partner with the Idol Gives Back
Foundation, FOX and American Idol on this special
episode,” said Kathy Calvin, CEO for the United Nations
Foundation. “We are working directly with the UN to help Haiti
address the medium and long-term challenges of reconstruction.
The UN needs our support so it can continue to provide food,
water, shelter, medicine, security and economic opportunities to
the earthquake victims. The UN and Haiti are rising to the
challenge and we all have a chance to help them rebuild their
future.”
Since the earthquake, the United Nations has been working
hand-in-hand with Haitians to help them recover. In the months
ahead, the UN’s life-saving work will continue, including
delivering food and water to millions of Haitians, providing
opportunities for employment to more than 200,000 people and
ensuring women and children are safe from mitigating diseases
such as measles and malaria.
In addition, it was announced today that News Corporation, Ford
Motor Company, Coca-Cola, AT&T and ExxonMobil will return as
corporate sponsors of Idol Gives Back and will
generously donate to the historic Emmy Award-winning television
event airing during the Top 7 Results Show on Wednesday, April
21 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX. The
brainchild of Simon Fuller, this special music event will raise
awareness and funds to benefit five charities, including
Children’s Health Fund, Feeding America, Malaria No More, Save
the Children’s U.S. Programs and the United Nations Foundation.
About Kris Allen
Kris Allen was a student at the University of Central Arkansas
before auditioning for American Idol. He has been
singing and playing the guitar since he was 13 years old.
Inspired by his faith, Allen has participated in missionary work
all over the world, including such places as Morocco, South
Africa and Thailand. Allen recently released his debut album,
“Live Like We’re Dying,” on the 19 Recordings/Jive Records
label.
About the United Nations Foundation
The United Nations Foundation, a public charity, was created in
1998 with entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner’s historic
$1 billion gift to support UN causes and activities. The
organization builds and implements public/private partnerships
to address the world’s most pressing problems, and works to
broaden support for the UN through advocacy and public outreach.
Through campaigns and partnerships, the UN Foundation connects
people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global
problems. The campaigns the UN Foundation conducts reduce child
mortality, empower women and girls, create a new energy future,
secure peace and human rights, and promote technology innovation
to improve health outcomes. For more information, visit
www.unfoundation.org.
About News Corporation
News Corporation (NASDAQ: NWS, NWSA; ASX: NWS, NWSLV) had total
assets as of December 31, 2009 of approximately US$56 billion
and total annual revenues of approximately US$30 billion. News
Corporation is a diversified global media company with
operations in eight industry segments: filmed entertainment;
television; cable network programming; direct broadcast
satellite television; integrated marketing services; newspapers
and information services; book publishing; and other. The
activities of News Corporation are conducted principally in the
United States, Continental Europe, the United Kingdom,
Australia, Asia and Latin America. For more information, visit
www.newscorp.com.
About Ford Motor Company
Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in
Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across
six continents. With about 198,000 employees and about 90 plants
worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford,
Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial
services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information
regarding Ford's products, please visit
www.ford.com.
About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is the world’s largest beverage
company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and
still brands. Together with Coca-Cola, recognized as the world’s
most valuable brand, the Company’s portfolio includes 14 billion
dollar brands, including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola
Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply and Georgia
Coffee. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling
beverages, juices and juice drinks and ready-to-drink teas and
coffees. Through the world’s largest beverage distribution
system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company’s
beverages at a rate of 1.6 billion servings a day. With an
enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our
Company is focused on initiatives that protect the environment,
conserve resources and enhance the economic development of the
communities where we operate. For more information about our
Company, please visit our website at
www.thecoca-colacompany.com.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) is a premier communications holding company.
Its subsidiaries and affiliates – AT&T operating companies – are
the providers of AT&T services in the United States and around
the world. With a powerful array of network resources that
includes the nation’s fastest 3G network, AT&T is a leading
provider of wireless, Wi-Fi, high speed Internet and voice
services. AT&T offers the best wireless coverage worldwide. It
also offers advanced TV services under the AT&T U-verseSM and
AT&T DIRECTVSM brands. The company’s suite of IP-based business
communications services is one of the most advanced in the
world. In domestic markets, AT&T’s Yellow Pages and
YELLOWPAGES.COM organizations are known for their leadership in
directory publishing and advertising sales. In 2009, AT&T again
ranked No. 1 in the telecommunications industry on FORTUNE®
magazine’s list of the World’s Most Admired Companies.
Additional information about AT&T Inc. and the products and
services provided by AT&T subsidiaries and affiliates is
available at www.att.com.
About ExxonMobil
Exxon Mobil Corporation and ExxonMobil Foundation, the primary
philanthropic arm of Exxon Mobil Corporation in the United
States, engage in a range of philanthropic activities that
advance education, health, women’s economic leadership and
public policy in the communities where ExxonMobil has
significant operations. In the United States, ExxonMobil
supports initiatives to improve math and science education at
the K-12 and higher education levels. Globally, ExxonMobil
provides funding to help women fulfill their economic potential
and combat malaria and other infectious diseases in developing
countries. Additional information on ExxonMobil's community
partnerships and contributions programs is available at
www.exxonmobil.com/community.
American Idol is created and executive-produced by
Simon Fuller, founder of 19 Entertainment; and
executive-produced by Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO, FremantleMedia
North America; and Ken Warwick, executive producer,
FremantleMedia North America. The series features host Ryan
Seacrest and judges Simon Cowell, Ellen DeGeneres, Kara
DioGuardi and Randy Jackson.
Visit americanidol.com
for more information on American Idol in addition to
exclusive videos, photos, special behind-the-scenes information
and all of your American Idol news.
Contact:
Jill Hudson /
FOX
310-369-2953
Alex Gillespie / FOX
212-556-2567
Jennifer Sprague / FOX
310-369-5650
IDOLPR@fox.com
Amy DiElsi / UN Foundation
202-419-3230
adielsi@unfoundation.org