Business Unit News
Former American Idol Finalists Volunteer to Support Idol Gives Back Initiative at Feeding America Food Banks Across the Country
Idol Gives Back Airs Wednesday, April 21, on FOX
Monday, April 12, 2010 – This week, former
American Idol finalists from all around the country,
including Amy Adams, Bo Bice, Didi Benami, Lacey Brown, Kevin
Covais, Bucky Covington, Diana DeGarmo, Julia DeMato, Melinda
Doolittle, Chikezie, Gina Glocksen, Danny Gokey, Mikalah Gordon,
RJ Helton, David Hernandez, Mandisa, Michael Johns, LaKisha
Jones, Megan Joy, Blake Lewis, Kimberley Locke, LaToya London,
Melissa McGhee, Jorge Núñez, Amanda Overmyer, Brandon Rogers,
Phil Stacey, Ruben Studdard, Elliott Yamin and Ace Young, will
volunteer to help support Feeding America’s local food banks and
Idol Gives Back, which airs Wednesday, April 21
(8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.
“Being a part of Idol was such a blessing, and I just
want to give back in any way that I can. There are so many
people here and across the world who are in need of help, and
people can help by supporting Idol Gives Back,” said
Season Five American Idol finalist Elliott Yamin, who
traveled to Angola with Idol judge Kara DioGuardi for
Idol Gives Back.
Feeding America, one of the Idol Gives Back
beneficiaries, is the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief
charity. Their mission is to feed America’s hungry through a
nationwide network of member food banks and engage our country
in the fight to end hunger. Each year, the Feeding America
network provides food to more than 37 million low-income people
facing hunger in the United States, including more than 14
million children and nearly 3 million seniors.
The former Idol finalists will be volunteering in New
York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Salt Lake City, Nashville, Seattle,
Houston, Birmingham and Tampa as follows:
TUESDAY, APRIL 13
• THE LOS ANGELES REGIONAL FOOD BANK, LOS ANGELES – Kimberley
Locke, Didi Benami, David Hernandez, Amy Adams, Chikezie,
Mikalah Gordon, Elliott Yamin, Kevin Covais, Michael Johns,
LaToya London and Brandon Rogers will pack food in boxes for
senior citizens and young children in need at the Los Angeles
Regional Food Bank.
• UTAH FOOD BANK, SALT LAKE CITY – Megan Joy will assist a group
of 30 volunteers who will sort through food-drive donations,
divide them into categories and prepare food boxes.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 14
• GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY, CHICAGO – Gina Glocksen and
Amanda Overmyer will join a group of volunteers to pack disaster
relief boxes for Feeding America.
• SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE, NASHVILLE –Lacey
Brown, Bucky Covington, Melinda Doolittle, Bo Bice, Phil Stacey
and Mandisa will work with other volunteers to pack
disaster-relief boxes for Feeding America.
• FOOD LIFELINE, SEATTLE – Blake Lewis will assist a group of
volunteers in sorting and repacking products to be distributed
to families in need.
THURSDAY, APRIL 15
• JAN HUS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, NEW YORK – Ace Young, Diana
DeGarmo, Jorge Núñez, Julia DeMato and RJ Helton will lend a
helping hand to hungry New Yorkers by delivering food with City
Harvest.
• HOUSTON FOOD BANK, HOUSTON – LaKisha Jones will be working
with a group of volunteers who will inspect donated food and
prepare it to be re-distributed to 400 agencies.
• FEEDING AMERICA TAMPA BAY, TAMPA – Melissa McGhee will spread
hope to people in need by working with a group of volunteers to
sort and package food.
FRIDAY, APRIL 16
• UNITED WAY COMMUNITY FOOD, BIRMINGHAM – Ruben Studdard will
label cans and pack boxes.
• THREE SQUARE, LAS VEGAS – Danny Gokey will assist a group of
volunteers to sort through donated food that will be used to
feed local families in need.
The brainchild of Simon Fuller, Idol Gives Back has
made history by raising over $140 million for charity to date.
This year’s special will help raise awareness and funds to
benefit various U.S. and international charities, including
Children’s Health Fund, Feeding America, Malaria No More, Save
the Children’s U.S. Programs and the United Nations Foundation.
As previously announced, 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.
Additionally, viewers can visit
www.idolgivesback.org
now and join the “Help Me Give Back” program, an online
initiative that empowers individuals and teams to help raise
money for Idol Gives Back. The website also allows access to an
online auction featuring one-of-a-kind items such as an
American Idol Season Ticket Pass, a Meet & Greet with Simon
Cowell, a pair of autographed sneakers from Ellen DeGeneres and
more. Net proceeds will benefit the Idol Gives Back
Foundation, and the auction runs until 11:59 PM PT on Tuesday,
April 20.
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 Idol Gives Back in addition to
exclusive videos, photos, special behind-the-scenes information
and all of your American Idol news.
Contact:
Jill Hudson
310-369-2953
Alex Gillespie
212-556-2519
Jennifer Sprague
310-369-5650
IDOLPR@fox.com