AMERICAN IDOL to Benefit the UN Foundation Fund for Haiti Thursday, February 25, on FOX

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The United Nations Foundation announced today it is partnering with AMERICAN IDOL for an episode on February 25 dedicated to Haiti. During the IDOL results show on FOX on Thursday, February 25 (8:00-9:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed), IDOL winner Kris Allen will perform and will share footage of his trip to Haiti with the UN Foundation to raise awareness and funds that will benefit the United Nations as it works with Haitians to help rebuild the country.

“We are proud to partner with IDOL GIVES BACK Foundation, FOX and AMERICAN IDOL on this special episode,” said Kathy Calvin, CEO of the United Nations Foundation. “We are working directly with the UN to help Haiti address the medium and long-term challenges of reconstruction.  The UN needs our support to continue to provide food, water, shelter, medicine, security, and economic opportunities to the earthquake victims.  The UN and Haiti are rising to the challenge and we all have a chance to help them rebuild their future.”

Calvin and Kris Allen, an American singer-songwriter from Jacksonville, Arkansas, and the winner of the eighth season of AMERICAN IDOL, will travel to Haiti on February 19, 2010. During the trip, they will meet with Haitians and UN staff to learn how people are recovering from the earthquake and find out what they will need in the months to come.

“I’m looking forward to traveling to Haiti to see the UN’s work firsthand,” said Allen. “The people of Haiti are rebuilding their country, and the UN is there to help them every step of the way. I look forward to sharing the images and stories from my trip with IDOL viewers across the country.”

Since the earthquake, the United Nations has been working hand-in-hand with Haitians to help them recover.  In the months ahead, the UN’s life-saving work will continue, including delivering food and water to millions of Haitians, providing jobs opportunities for employment to more than 200,000 people, ensuring women and children are safe, and mitigating diseases such as measles and malaria.

The UN is close to reaching its appeal for $540 million. To learn more about the UN’s work in Haiti and how to donate, visit www.unfoundation.org/idol.  Donations to the UN Foundation are tax-deductible.

The UN Foundation is one of the beneficiaries of IDOL GIVES BACK, the television event raising awareness and funds to benefit various U.S. and international charities. The special will air during the Top 7 Results Show on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 (8:00-10:00 PM ET live/PT tape-delayed) on FOX.

About the United Nations Foundation

The United Nations Foundation, a public charity, was created in 1998 with entrepreneur and philanthropist Ted Turner’s historic $1 billion gift to support UN causes and activities. The UN Foundation builds and implements public/private partnerships to address the world’s most pressing problems, and works to broaden support for the UN through advocacy and public outreach. Through campaigns and partnerships, the organization connects people, ideas, and resources to help the UN solve global problems. The campaigns reduce child mortality, empower women and girls, create a new energy future, secure peace and human rights, and promote technology innovation to improve health outcomes. For more information, visit www.unfoundation.org.

SOURCE United Nations Foundation