America Gives Back was the Charity Partner of the first Idol Gives Back event in 2007, created in conjunction with American Idol and FOX.
The money raised from Idol Gives Back 2007 has been divided equally between the U.S. and Africa to help children and young people in extreme poverty. The key issues tackled are health and education and the protection of children and young people at risk.
FOX, "American Idol" and Charity Projects Entertainment Fund (now called America Gives Back) created a two-night special on 24 and 25 April 2007 to help raise awareness and funds for organizations focused on delivering health and education resources for children and young people in extreme poverty in the U.S. and in the poorest countries in the world. In keeping with the "Idol Gives Back" theme, the 6 finalists sang 'life anthems' of compassion and hope and viewers voted for their favorite contestants as usual. On this special night, however, viewers also helped change the lives of the truly needy - for every vote cast, sponsors donated money to the charity.
The extended two-hour results show was a star-studded evening featuring world-renowned artists and celebrities. The public responded with unprecedented generosity by donating more than $54 million, bringing the grand total raised, including corporate and matched funding, to $75.1 million.
American Idol Productions staged ‘Idol Gives Back’ in April 2008 and April 2010. America Gives Back worked with American Idol Productions on the events, but was not responsible for distributing the money raised.
Total money raised
Viewers of the 2007 live show
People helped
At America Gives Back we raise money and awareness to help combat extreme poverty in the United States and the poorest countries in the world.
We aim to drive positive changes in three ways:
— Raising awareness of poverty conditions and the issues facing the poor and disadvantaged in the United States and the poorest countries in the world.
— Developing and distributing educational tools and initiatives for school children and teachers in the United States to understand how poverty is perpetuated and the steps that can be taken to eradicate it.
— Making grants to organizations that are committed to the issues identified by America Gives Back as having a major effect on the poor and disadvantaged including: health and education and the protection of children and young people at risk.