Telethon raises 'record' $57m for Haiti victims

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Hope for Haiti Now footage courtesy of MTV

Organisers of the "Hope for Haiti Now" telethon say it has raised more than $57m (£35m) for the victims of the Haiti earthquake.

Friday night's event set a new record for disaster relief telethons, said Lisa Paulsen, head of the Entertainment Industry Foundation.

Some of the world's top celebrities took part in the broadcast from New York, Los Angeles, London and Haiti.

It was shown on all major US TV channels, YouTube and on MTV in the UK.

More than 100 Hollywood and music stars took part.

Some of them performed while others, including director Steven Spielberg, singer Stevie Wonder and TV star Ellen DeGeneres, took telephone pledges from viewers.

In pictures: 'Hope for Haiti'

The actor George Clooney, who organised the event, said: "At the core of every religion is the belief that we care for one another, we take care of each other especially in times of need.

"The Haitian people need our help, they need to know they're not alone, they need to know that that we still care."

Haitian-born rapper Wyclef Jean - who set up the charity foundation Yele Haiti - Bruce Springsteen, Jennifer Hudson, Mary J Blige and Shakira performed in New York.

Madonna sang Like A Prayer with the backing of a choir, while Sting sang Driven To Tears.

Rihanna, meanwhile, performed a cover version of Bob Marley's Redemption Song, which she has released to raise money for the people of Haiti.

Jay Z debuted a song, Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour) with U2's Bono and The Edge.

It featured Jay Z rapping about the earthquake while Bono and singer Rihanna's lyrics included "Not going to leave you stranded."

Actress Julia Roberts took donations from the public for the people of Haiti

As well as musical collaborations, the show broadcast shocking images from the earthquake and interviews with Haitians.

Many of the stars donated money themselves: Madonna gave $250,000 (£155,000), Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie gave $1m (£620,000) and supermodel Giselle Bundchen gave $1.5m (£0.93m).

Clooney had donated $1m during the telethon, his spokesman told Reuters news agency.

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio signed a cheque for $1m to the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund, which was started by former presidents Bill Clinton and George W Bush.

As well as donations from viewers, more money will be raised through the sale of songs performed on the show, via iTunes.