$450k raised for Keep a Child Alive via SMS
LOS ANGELES -Twelve-time Grammy-winning singer Alicia Keys’ appearance on FOX’s “American Idol” Wednesday night (May 13) raised an astonishing $450,000 from more than 90,000 mobile donors who texted their donations. Keep a Child Alive is the non-profit organization co-founded by Keys to provide health care and housing to children with HIV/AIDS in Africa and India.
In a first for “American Idol,” and a departure from traditional fundraising methods, Keys asked the show’s 30 million viewers to use their mobile phones to give $5 by sending the text message ALIVE to 90999. Seconds after texting in, they received a message back asking for confirmation. Mobile donors confirmed by replying “YES” via text message. The $5 donation will be added to their next mobile phone bill.
To date, the “Give $5 Text ALIVE” campaign has raised more than $500,000 for Keys’ cause. In addition to a co-founder, Keys serves as the group’s global ambassador.
Keys was joined on American Idol by a 15-year-old Rwandan rapper, Noah, who is a patient at the Kigali clinic funded by Keep a Child Alive. Noah captured the heart of Americans on the “Tyra Banks Show” in December, and has a popular youtube.com video.
