The Global Fund Welcomes Contribution from "Idol Gives Back"
14 November 2008
Geneva – The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria accepts with gratitude a contribution worth US$ 10 million from American Idol, an American singing competition show airing on Fox Television Network. The money was raised during a special show called “Idol Gives Back”, which aired in April 2008. The purpose of “Idol Gives Back” is to raise awareness and funds for organizations that provide relief programs to help children and young people in extreme poverty in America and developing countries.
US$ 9 million of the resources will be allocated to a Global Fund-supported program fighting HIV/AIDS in the Western Cape Province in South Africa. The remaining US$ one million was donated by the M-A-C AIDS Fund to the Global Fund through “Idol Gives Back” and will support an HIV/AIDS program in Jamaica.
“Idol Gives Back is a great act of kindness by American viewers,” said Dr Michel Kazatchkine, the Global Fund’s Executive Director. “I would like to thank the people at American Idol, all the viewers who have donated to the show and the M-A-C AIDS Fund. These new resources will help scale up prevention and care efforts in the fight against HIV and AIDS in South Africa and Jamaica and will help save the lives of many people.”
In 2007, the Global Fund was also among the recipients of money raised at “Idol Gives Back”.