One January 12th, 2010, Haiti suffered a 7.0 magnitude earthquake with a 75,000 death toll that just keeps climbing. The world is mobilizing to help – corporate donations from the United States alone have exceeded 100 million dollars in less than ten days – but with basic essentials like water, food and shelter still in short supply more help is needed.
If you want to pitch in, there are a lot of great ways to do it. But the most fun way to donate is likely be what’s happening tonight on MTV (and a ton of other networks. Check our sister site Twirlit for the full list). Carve out some time to sit down with the kiddos and watch “Hope for Haiti: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief” put famous faces and voices to work. The benefit, hosted by George Clooney in Los Angeles, Wyclef Jean in New York and Anderson Cooper in Haiti, will feature Brad Pitt, Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Clint Eastwood, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jon Stewart, Julia Roberts, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Meryl Streep, Morgan Freeman, Nicole Kidman, Robert Pattinson, Samuel L. Jackson, Tom Hanks, Will Smith and more – and that’s just the phone panel.
Lest you think to yourself, “Gee, watching people answer phones is kind of dull, even if they are famous.” Worry not. There will be more than enough musical entertainment. Pop legend Madonna (in New York )and Haitian artist Emeline Michel (in Los Angeles) will be performing, as well as Wyclef Jean, Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J. Blige, Shakira and Sting in New York. In L.A., Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Stevie Wonder and Taylor Swift will be crooning, plus there will be a group performance by Keith Urban, Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow. Beyoncé and Coldplay will be chiming in from London, and Bono, The Edge, Jay-Z and Rihanna will collaborate for the show.
This one is bound to be a classic, this generation’s Live Aid, not to mention an excellent example of the generosity of the human spirit, so share it with your children. Not only will you get to spend some quality time proving to your kids that MTV is still cool, you’ll get to help them learn what making a difference looks like.
