"He's been on the phone for three days straight with almost no sleep"

[Amerigo Vespucci]

How Telethons Help: Haiti Will Be George Clooney's Third

By Paul Chi and Elizabeth Leonard

Sunday January 17, 2010 01:45 PM EST

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20337425,00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+people%2Fheadlines+%28PEOPLE.com%3A+Top+Headlines%29



In response to the devastating earthquake in Haiti that has killed up to tens of thousands of people, George Clooney and MTV Networks are organizing a megawatt line up of musicians, film and television stars for a national telethon looking to be successful in raising funds as previous disaster telethons have in the past.

"He's been on the phone for three days straight with almost no sleep," Clooney's rep told PEOPLE when he skipped the Critics' Choice Awards Friday in order to prepare for the Haiti telethon. "George knows how to do this well. It's his third one." The Up in the Air actor and humanitarian was involved in organizing both the Sept. 11 and the South Asia tsunami telethons.

With specific details still being worked out, the two-hour telethon, airing Jan. 22, will be similar to past disaster events featuring musical performances and an all-star ensemble of Hollywood celebrities offering viewers the opportunity to pledge money.

[gateley]

1. Such a good guy. He does more than contribute, he works it. nt

[leftygolfer]

2. George should run for Senate

at least one person "gets it." This is what being a member of the world is about Rush and Robertson.

[niyad]

5. that is true--sadly, however, people like rush and pat will NEVER "get it"

[glitch]

8. I'd vote for him. (maybe he can primary Feinstein :) And welcome to DU! nt

[roguevalley]

14. his dad ran in Kentucky but lost. :( His parents raised him right.

[SammyWinstonJack]

16. He'd never be allowed to win. nt

[virgogal]

3. Three days with almost no sleep? Big deal. I had 6 kids and

that was often routine.

Poor,poor George.

That said,I wish him well with the telethon.

[kestrel91316]

6. You have an OBLIGATION to your kids. He has no such obligation

to Haitians. There's the difference. But you knew that. You just had to piss on this thread.

[Dappleganger]

7. Yes, but they are YOUR kids.

Clooney is taking on the burden of people who are complete strangers. Big kudos to him!

[Control-Z]

9. How heroic of you,

losing sleep over your own beloved children. Children I can only hope you freely chose to have. Because, you know, most of us just let our kids cry while we get our much needed sleep. You betcha.

[Gregorian]

4. WOW. Just wow.

I'm sorry, but it's my birthday. I can get away with a post like this. WOW!

I'm sitting here buying stuff online. I could be doing something to help the world. I don't have the star power, so I won't feel like a total douche. But I could be doing something seriously better than donating $25 to Haitian relief.

Clooney!

[AwakeAtLast]

10. He's also at the Golden Globes

Now I know why he looked a little bleary-eyed.

[Jennicut]

11. He is a great guy, wish there were more like him.

[Skittles]

12. I'll be donating

just from reading this; yes INDEED

[Terra Alta]

13. Clooney is one of the good guys.

if only we had more people like him and less people like Rush and Robertson... the world would be a much better place!

[K8-EEE]

15. My much maligned community of "Hollywierd" "El Lay" are some of the nicest

and most generous people in the world. My boss (or a small-ish company) here in No Hollywood immediately offered to match donations from all employees and every single person put something in, even those who are really struggling.

Then I look at the Freeper site and it's like, "oh Haiti was fucked up anyway so who cares" type shit from Sarah's "real Americans" is the prevailing attitude there. Except of course for all the "prayers" which sorry prayers don't cost them anything, cheap fucks use it as an excuse to do nothing. I mean pray all you want but throw in some cash please.

I'm lucky to live in such a compassionate city and George really does us proud!