Canadians from all walks and backgrounds stood together Friday night in an effort to raise funds for quake-crippled Haiti.
The Canada for Haiti telethon – organized by and airing on Global, CBC and CTV – was designed to raise money for a group of nine Canadian charities already on the ground in the tiny Caribbean nation.
The hour-long, commercial-free program, hosted by George Stroumboulopoulos, Cheryl Hickey and Ben Mulroney, had phone lines jammed with callers looking to give. Initial reports said the event had raised $7.1 million.
“We are asking you to come together, we’re asking you to step forward and help others,” said Mulroney, surrounded by a small sea of Canadian celebrities, at the show’s opening.
But lots of callers were getting through, including one person that made an individual donation of $100,000.
The federal government has said it will match donations given by Canadians to recognized charities dollar from dollar, up to a total of $50 million.
Throughout the broadcast, images of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Haiti on Jan. 12 scrolled across the screen. An estimated 200,000 have been killed – including 17 Canadians – and millions more are homeless.
One-third of Haiti’s nine million people are expected to need emergency food, water and shelter for an indefinite period of time.
Musicians – including K’naan and the Tragically Hip – performed and other celebrities offered words of encouragement.
“I’m looking for the bus to get to Haiti because I have to go fix things,” quipped Mike Holmes.
“It’s going to take a long time to clean up . . . It’s going to take years to rebuild,” he said. “We need to step back and go back to the drawing board and think: how can we make a change here, how can we make it better, how can think green and build better to withstand an earthquake.
“We can do it.”
The program also showed three reporters currently in the Haiti; Global’s Mike Armstrong, CBC’s Susan Ormiston and CTV’s Paul Workman were shown visiting field hospitals and orphanages in Port-au-Prince as people struggle to continue.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Gov.-Gen. Michaelle Jean also asked Canadians to give generously.
“So widespread is the damage, so severe the destruction that much is needed, much more,” said Harper. “Together we can make a difference so that hope may return to Haiti.”
Speaking from Montreal, which is home to a large Haitian population, Jean spoke of the tremendous outpouring of support she has heard from Canadian communities big and small.
“It’s very important to take this time and really to put our hearts together and our minds together and see how we can support Haiti that has to overcome this horrible ordeal,” she said.
“As a Canadian – a very proud Canadian – words cannot express how inspired I feel, how inspired I am, to see you and millions of others mobilize your families, your friends, your entire communities, really, to support Haiti to overcome and to emerge from the aftermath of the earthquake.”
Canadians can donate one of three ways: by calling 1-877-51-HAITI, by texting the word “˜aid’ to 45678 to make an instant $5 donation or by visiting Canadaforhaiti.com. All channels will be operational until Feb. 12.
Along with Canada’s telethon was the U.S. version, Hope for Haiti Now, with a bank of stars manning the phones – including Reese Witherspoon and Julia Roberts.
Opened by George Clooney, it also featured such celebrities as Halle Berry, Samuel L. Jackson and Anderson Cooper, as well as performances by Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder and Taylor Swift.
© Copyright (c) Canwest News Service
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