Benefit Telethon Generates Record Volume of Individual Donations For Hurricane Sandy Victims
New York – The American Red Cross and NBCUniversal announced November 3rd that “Hurricane Sandy: Coming Together,” a live, one-hour benefit telethon, generated nearly $23 million in support of victims impacted by Hurricane Sandy. A record number of individual donations by phone, text and online were accepted by the American Red Cross during the 8:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. time period beginning on Friday, November 2, 2012. The volume of website and phone traffic exceeded previous benefit telethons in support of the American Red Cross over the last five years.
“We are incredibly grateful and humbled by this outpouring of support for those who are suffering as a result of Superstorm Sandy,” said American Red Cross Chief Marketing Officer Peggy Dyer. “Our preliminary results of nearly $23 million raised are an extraordinary example of how the American people pull together in times of disaster. Their generous donations will go directly to those in need, and we urge the public to continue to give. We also thank the dedicated and talented team at NBCUniversal for the millions of people they have helped through this telethon."
