George Clooney-led charity telethon, "Hope For Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief," has raised more than $58 million to help earthquake victims in Haiti, setting the new donation record by the general public.
"The public has set a new standard of giving for a relief telethon with 'Hope for Haiti Now,' and the donations continue to come in - people can still contribute 24/7 via phone, web and text," said Lisa Paulsen, president and chief executive officer of non-profit organization Entertainment Industry Foundation.
George Clooney hosted the event from Los Angeles while Wyclef Jean co-hosted from New York. CNN's Anderson Cooper reported from Haiti for the event.
Jennifer Aniston, John Cusack and Sacha Baron Cohen were just three of more than a hundred Hollywood celebrities who answered telephone calls from people all over the country who talked with the stars and pledged their donations.
The event, which aired live on Friday night in all major television and cable networks, also featured performances by Madonna, Beyonce, Coldplay, and John Legend who delivered a stirring version of "Motherless Child."
Internet social networks Facebook and MySpace also contributed to funds collection.
Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, George Clooney – Myanmar Plea
Hollywood's sexiest male celebrities Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, and George Clooney combined their powerful charms and humanitarian efforts in pleading for the Myanmar government to allow foreign aid workers into the cyclone-ravaged country to bring reliefs for the people.
As top giving celebs, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon and George Clooney represented the plea to enter Myanmar where 138,000 people died or was missing and 2.4 million people are in need of aid, after being hit by Cyclone Nargis. The junta government has refused entry to most foreign aid workers.
"Despite this, foreign supply ships with emergency and lifesaving equipment have been turned away or gone home. International relief continues to be slowed...Burma's delta remains shattered, its people starving and in danger."
George Clooney makes the best of being one of the most influential people in the world. The A-list Hollywood actor greeted the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces on their 60th anniversary through a video, Peace Is Hard.
"Peace is certainly more than a celebrity endorsement. Peace is protecting civilians, overseeing elections and disarming ex-combatants ... in places others can't or won't go," says the 47-year old George Clooney.
