Prevention, Treatment and Singing? American Idol's Contribution to Fighting AIDS and Poverty

What are you doing Tuesday night? For more than thirty-five million Americans, the answer is the same every week - "I’m watching American Idol." In fact, more people voted in last year's American Idol finale than voted in the 2004 Presidential election.

Next Tuesday (April 24th), this TV series phenomenon is "giving back" by airing the first of a two night special that will help raise funds for charities in America and Africa. Viewers will see segments during next week's episodes that spotlight both domestic and international poverty. The show's corporate sponsors will then make a small donation for every vote cast by viewers in support of their favorite contestants. The international charities to benefit include UNICEF, the Global Fund and Malaria No More.

"Idol Gives Back" is another example of the innovative ways in which organizations like the Global Fund are attempting to diversify their funding sources by harnessing the power of consumer demand for existing goods and services (Product RED is the other prominent example). An additional benefit to the Idol special will be the ability to reach a wide audience with messages about both American and African poverty.

Producers of next week's special Idol episodes would also do a real service if they used the dual charitable focus as a way to highlight the differences between implementing charitable programs in the US versus Africa. Rebuilding child care facilities in New Orleans is made easier by the availability of roads, electricity and safe water; reaching children in Namibia with vaccines often has to be done without such supporting infrastructure. That's not to diminish the needs of children in New Orleans, but rather to underscore the real challenge of addressing poverty in rural Africa.

I must admit that I’m not a regular Idol watcher, but the chance to hear Ryan Seacrest and Simon Cowell talk about poverty in Africa is something I simply wouldn't miss...