NEWSLarry King Organizes Star-Studded Telethon for Gulf Oil Spill
June 18 2010, Published 7:55 a.m. ET
CNN talk show host Larry King has organized a two-hour live telethon this Monday, June 21, to raise money and awareness about the current devastation striking the Gulf of Mexico in the aftermath of the BP oil spill. The telethon features a star-studded guest list and will raise funds for a number of organizations involved in the relief effort in the Gulf.
“The Gulf oil spill is a disaster both national and natural in scope, and the point of this effort is to get immediate relief to the people and Wildlife who are in urgent need,” Larry King said in a statement released by CNN. “The telethon’s proceeds go directly to the relief organizations who are working on the frontlines to do just that.”
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Larry added, “I understand bureaucracy and that some things take time, but when you’re out of work, you don’t need help tomorrow, you need help today. I’m grateful so many friends and colleagues are coming out to support our June 21st telethon. We’re going to raise all we can to help the people and also the Wildlife that need it now.”
The telethon will raise funds for United Way, The National Wildlife Federation and The Nature Conservancy, organizations working directly with the families, individuals and Wildlife affected by the Gulf oil spill.
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Celebrity guests include Justin Bieber, Deepak Chopra, Cameron Diaz, Philippe Cousteau, Ted Danson, Kathy Griffin, Chelsea Handler, Randy Jackson, Kerry Kennedy, Sammy Kershaw, Lenny Kravitz, Jenny McCarthy, Tim McGraw, Alyssa Milano, Aaron Neville, Edward James Olmos, Victoria Principal, Robert Redford, Gloria Reuben, Tyson Ritter, Richard Simmons, Ian Somerhalder, Sam Trammell, Melania and Ivanka Trump, Pete Wentz, with a special performance by Sting.
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The stars will be talking to Larry on set and via satellite and also participate in the program’s telephone banks taking viewer calls, or in a special online Social Suite — hosted by Ryan Seacrest — for participants using Internet outlets like Facebook and Twitter.
Celebrity guests will be posting live Facebook updates during the telethon and the name #CNNHelpGulf is used for viewers and online participants wanting to join the conversation on Twitter.
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Anderson Cooper along with other CNN correspondents will provide the latest news from the Gulf throughout the 2-hour live telecast, reporting from locations including New Orleans, Grand Isle, and other areas throughout the region.
Special guest Olivia Bouler from Islip, New York, will also be featured during the live telecast. The 11-year-old has made national news with her effort to raise money and support for the Gulf through providing original watercolor paintings of regional birds to anyone who donated to organizations working to protect Gulf wildlife.
She has raised over $20,000 to date through her efforts and will be painting a picture during Monday’s telethon to auction for viewers, with proceeds going directly toward the evening’s fundraising efforts.
Visit CNN.com/ImpactYourWorld for more information on the upcoming telethon and how you can help the relief effort in the Gulf, and be sure to tune in Monday, June 21 at 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. for Larry King's the live broadcast.
