Idol Gives Back Funds Really Making a Difference

While this year's "Idol Gives Back" event was two star-studded nights of exciting entertainment and history-making performances, the profound effects of the fund raising are far-reaching. The extravaganza in April raised more than $75 million, and the money has already gone to various charities in the United States and Africa. According to the Associate Press via the International Herald Tribune, five charities in Africa received $6 million each. This includes an innovative anti-AIDS peer education program in which the students meld "What a Wonderful World" with break-dancing, traditional rhythms and African opera. While those who donated might not have known exactly what their money was going to provide, they should know that every donation has had an impact. "It makes a massive difference. Massive," said Martin Edlund of the charity Malaria No More. "A little money goes such a long way." To provide an example of the tremendous need in Africa, Malaria No More and Nothing But Nets (the "Idol Gives Back" beneficiaries) note that it costs $10 to buy and distribute one insecticide-treated net. What is referred to as "Sub-Saharan Africa" needs approximately 300 million of them. As stated on iht.com, "The charities say 'Idol Gives Back' will also have a longer-term impact — it showed a global audience of 60 million hard-hitting images of the mosquito-born disease that is still Africa's leading child killer, claiming one young life every 30 seconds. It's a chance to teach people that malaria is an ongoing problem with a very tangible solution." Melinda Doolittle went above and beyond by visiting Zambia in June with first lady Laura Bush and Malaria No More. The article notes that her fans have followed her lead and, instead of throwing her flowers, they now buy bed nets. Unfortunately, death isn't something that pertains to the elderly in Africa. "In the cemetery there's young people. The youth are dying," said Mzamo Ngemntu, a 23-year-old peer educator in Khayelitsha, an impoverished Cape Town district of a million people. This is most likely why the Global Fund chose the stellar youth programs of the South Africa's Western Cape Province for "Idol Gives Back" funding. The poignant plays about the dangers of sex, drugs, and AIDS have been more effective than other methods of prevention. "If it was not for the Global Fund we could not have done what we are doing today," said Pierre Uys, the provincial health minister. "If you take that away, we are gone. It's holding our health system together." The message that Rajesh Anandan, the head of private sector partnerships at the fund, would like to impart is that those who donated money for "Idol Gives Back" should realize that it's going to competent people who really want to improve their lives. He also is quick to point out that the donation from the event is no small amount. "It's easy to get lost in numbers of billions of dollars a year," he said. "But when you get down to funding things that work and have a real impact, then US$6 million (€4.2 million) goes a long way." Didn't have a chance to donate? You can still do so now, right here on Americanidol.com!