TORONTO - Last week's celeb-packed telethon "Canada For Haiti" has raised more than $13.5 million, while a French-language telethon in Quebec raised $6.7 million.
With federal contributions, officials say more than $40 million has been raised for the Caribbean nation, which was struck by a massive earthquake on Jan. 12.
An average of 2.4 million Canadians watched the star-driven "Canada For Haiti" on CBC, CTV, Global, MTV, MuchMusic, Citytv and National Geographic Channel last Friday while more than six million watched some or all of the broadcast.
The special featured live and pre-recorded pleas for donations from stars including James Cameron, Celine Dion, Michael J. Fox, Rachel McAdams and Nelly Furtado.
Money raised from the show are to be shared by several charities including Canadian Red Cross Society, Care Canada, Free the Children, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam Quebec, Plan Canada, and World Vision Canada.
Canadians can continue to donate online at CanadaForHaiti.com, by phone at 1-877-51-HAITI or by texting AID to 45678 (carrier charges may apply) until Feb. 12.
"We are so grateful and humbled by the astounding generosity shown by Canadians both during and after the 'Canada For Haiti' concert," Dave Toycen, president of World Vision Canada, said Monday in a release.
"This amazing and compassionate response says to those suffering children and families in Haiti that Canadians care."
