Wyclef Jean To Co-host Hope For Haiti Telethon With Clooney

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by Michael dEstries January 17, 2010
Categories: Causes
Tags: , .

wyclef_jean

George Clooney has found a co-host for the upcoming “Hope for Haiti” telethon scheduled for next week, and it’s none other than Haitian-born musician/activist Wyclef Jean.

The 37-year-old has been at the forefront of seeking support for the devastated people of Haiti ever since a magnitude 7.0 earthquake rocked the country earlier this past week. It’s reported that Clooney will host from LA, Wyclef from New York City, and CNN’s Anderson Cooper from Haiti. The two-hour special will air commercial-free at 8 p.m. on ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, CNN, BET, the CW, HBO, MTV, VH1 and CMT.

Wyclef’s charitable foundation, Yéle Haiti, came under fire earlier this week after watch groups raised questions about expenses paid to businesses owned by Jean and another member of the board. The singer fired back in a Youtube video saying, “I gotta tell you, coming back in here after digging kids up . . . and finding cemeteries for them . . . this is what I come back to: an attack on my integrity and my foundation, Yele Haiti. . . . you can donate to whatever charity you want to.”

Check out the full video here.


Categories: Causes
Tags: , .
Photo: Youtube.com

About Michael dEstries

Michael has been blogging since 2005 on issues such as sustainability, renewable energy, philanthropy, and healthy living. He regularly contributes to a slew of publications, as well as consulting with companies looking to make an impact using the web and social media. He lives in Ithaca, NY with his family on an apple farm.

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  • Adri

    Both the Associated Press researchers and the BBB found that Yele Haiti has paid a good deal of money back to Wyclef Jean’s own businesses. For example, Jean charged for his own benefit concerts. I’m sure his feelings about Haiti are genuine, but his charity’s activities leave a lot to be desired.

    Luckily there are other ways to help, like through Doctors Without Borders.

  • ddpalmer

    http://blog.charitynavigator.org/2010/01/wyclef-jeans-yele-haiti-foundation.html

    ” * We find it odd that the charity filed all three 990s (for fiscal years 2005, 2006 and 2007) in August of 2009. Charities are often not especially timely in filing these documents, but this is beyond late.
    * According to the group’s FYE 2008 audit (the corresponding 990 isn’t available at this time) the group spent 69% of its budget on programs. Our research shows that the most efficient charities spend at least 75%.
    * Just about all of its program expenses are providing grants to its affiliate organization in Haiti. There is nothing wrong with that, but we really don’t know how the group in Haiti spends its money.
    * One of our recommendations is that donors stick with charities that have experience in providing aid after major disasters and/or that have a long history of working in Haiti. The group may meet the second criteria, but it doesn’t appear to meet the first. “

  • http://www.suite101.com/writer_articles.cfm/christinetaylor Christine E. Taylor

    For those who are interested, I wrote an article covering the major facts of the Yele Haiti controversy, including the AP and Smoking Gun finds and Wyclef Jean’s reponse to date.

    http://povertyworlddevelopment.suite101.com/article.cfm/yele_haiti_controversy_over_earthquake_funds

    ~Christine

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