Queen Latifah arrives at the Fidelity Futurestage Finale Gala for New York public school students making their Broadway debut at Sardi's in New York on June 15, 2009. (UPI Photo/Laura Cavanaugh) |
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NEW YORK, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- BET Networks says it is organizing a benefit concert called "SOS Saving OurSelves: Help for Haiti" with Queen Latifah, Sean Combs and Pharrell Williams.
The concert and celebrity telethon are intended to support relief efforts in Haiti, which was devastated by an earthquake Jan. 12. The two-hour program is to take place Feb. 5 at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami, featuring a performance by Haitian-born music star Wyclef Jean, and is to air on BET, Centric, MTV and VH1.
Donations are to directly benefit Yele Haiti, CARE, Project Medishare and Children's Safe Drinking Water, BET Networks said.
"Words fail to describe the sadness we feel for our brothers and sisters in Haiti," Debra Lee, chairman and chief executive officer of BET Networks, said in a statement Thursday. "There is so much work to do, so we must keep the focus on Haiti and we must continue to give. This telethon will give everyone another opportunity to make a difference through the efforts of these amazing organizations that are working hard to rebuild Haiti.
"The devastation that has occurred in Haiti has broken my heart. My hope is that we can raise enough money to sustain a few of the relief organizations for quite some time as there is a lot of work to be done over there," Williams said. "The goal is not only to bring immediate relief to Haiti but to also rebuild the country and help the country move forward."
The lineup of performers and names of celebrities who will be answering phones during the telecast have not been announced yet.
