Idol 100K Challenge Update

Apr 30th, 2007 12:00 PM EST
By Weldon Kennedy

We’re mere moments from reaching our goal of signing up 100,000 new ONE members, 2 days ahead of schedule.  Let’s see how far we can take it past 100,000 by Wednesday night.

Keep on signing up your friends and spreading word about how we can all make a difference is we stand as ONE.

Join ONE

AIDS Walk Orlando

Apr 30th, 2007 11:30 AM EST
By Dawn Nagy, ONE Member, Orlando, Fl

Orlando Chapter of ONE took part in “AIDS Walk Orlando” at beautiful Lake Eola, downtown Orlando, Florida. We were once again invited by the Hope and Help Center of Central Florida. Their mission is to “save lives by eliminating the spread of HIV/AIDS and provide support, education and care for those living with the disease.” We had a great group of ONE volunteers who received over 200 signatures for the ONE declaration, and gave everyone information about joining ONE and taking action globally and locally.

There was an outpouring of community support from many organizations…like the employees shown here from Walt Disney World… the “VoluntEARS” (love the shirts!) Also met up with many supporters wearing product(Red).

We met the crew from O-Rock 105.9 radio and they invited us on stage to offer AIDS trivia to the crowd and the winner received a gift package from ONE that consisted of a ONE shirt, wristbands, and the book “On the Move.”

We thank Hope and Help Center for allowing ONE to have a table for the 2nd year, and we look forward to working with them again soon.

Idol 100K Challenge

Apr 27th, 2007 2:30 PM EST
By Weldon Kennedy

As of this morning 75,000 people have added their voices to the fight against extreme poverty since the Idol Gives Back special on Wednesday night. Immediately we thought, “why not make that 100,000 in one week?”

To help us reach that 100,000 we are challenging all ONE members to get one of their friends to join ONE.

So please take a moment and reach out to a friend and encourage them to use their voice to fight poverty.

10 Away and One Day Left.

Apr 27th, 2007 1:00 PM EST
By Weldon Kennedy

The deadline for the “Feinstein-Hagel” Dear Colleague letter asking for $39.8 billion for the international affairs budget (IAB) to today, and we need one final push to help us reach our goal. We just got our 50th senator, but we still need to place plenty of phone calls before the end of the day to reach our goal of 60.

If you don’t see both of your state’s senators below, please call 1-800-786-2663 and urge them to fully fund the IAB in 2008. Go here for some talking points for your call.

Daniel Akaka (D-HI)

Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)

Barbara Boxer (D-CA)

Sherrod Brown (D-OH)

Richard Burr (R-NC)

Maria Cantwell (D-WA)

Benjamin Cardin (D-MD)

Robert Casey (D-PA)

Hillary Clinton (D-NY)

Norm Coleman (R-MN)

Susan Collins (R-ME)

Christopher Dodd (D-CT)

Elizabeth Dole (R-NC)

Byron Dorgan (D-ND)

Richard Durbin (D-IL)

Russ Feingold (D-WI)

Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)

Chuck Hagel (R-NE)

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)

Orrin Hatch (R-UT)

Daniel Inouye (D-HI)

Johnny Isakson (R-GA)

Ted Kennedy (D-MA)

John Kerry (D-MA)

Herb Kohl (D-WI)

Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)

Patrick Leahy (D-VT)

Carl Levin (D-MI)

Joseph Lieberman (ID-CT)

Blanche Lincoln (D-AR)

Richard Lugar (R-IN)

Mel Martinez (R-FL)
Claire McCaskill (D-MO)
Robert Menendez (D-NJ)

Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)

Bill Nelson (D-FL)

Barack Obama (D-IL)

Mark Pryor (D-AR)

Jack Reed (D-RI)

Ken Salazar (D-CO)

Charles Schumer (D-NY)

Gordon Smith (R-OR)

Olympia Snowe (R-ME)

Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)

John Sununu (R-NH)

George Voinovich (D-OR)

John Warner (R-VA)

James Webb (D-VA)
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)

Ron Wyden (D-OR)

Mitt and the Marine

Apr 27th, 2007 12:00 PM EST
By matthew.bartlett

Yesterday our ONE Marine Michael and his sons met Presidential hopeful Gov. Mitt Romney to make sure he knows fighting AIDS and poverty in Africa, is a priority here in New Hampshire.  You can see from the picture that they were all in their ONE shirts.
 
Michael told me that the Gov. Romney said that he was very familiar with the ONE Campaign and put on a ONE band immediately.  Michael even distributed some ONE bands to the campaign staff before he left.
 
Everywhere in New Hampshire people are finding ways to show support for the ONE Campaign, in letters to the editor, Op-Eds, tabling at local events, and even speaking directly with our leaders, we are surely building a grassroots movement of people that are choosing to become the generation that can and will end extreme global poverty.

Page’s Party

Apr 27th, 2007 11:00 AM EST
By Page Patten, ONE Member

I have to admit I haven’t really watched a lot of American Idol in the past.  However, when I learned about this special two-night episode to “give back” I was definitely excited to tune in!  I invited some friends over to watch together and we had a great time. 
 
Although I try to stay cognizant of the issues surrounding global poverty and AIDS, watching this show was a great refresher for why I am involved with the ONE campaign.  It was very motivating to me to use this show as a platform to reach out to some of my friends and share with them my passion to make a difference one step at a time. 
 
I look forward to meeting the new people who have decided to join us in our efforts due to this widely publicized event!

Whatta Watch Party

Apr 27th, 2007 10:30 AM EST
By Katie Andrews, ONE Regional Field Organizer

The Chillicothe, OH ONE group is going strong.  At this past weekend’s Earth Gathering they gained much support in their small community.  All the new members were excited to get started so Chris Cooper, the ONE volunteer lead, arranged for an “Idol Gives Back” party at a local restaurant.  About 30 ONE members came to enjoy watching ONE on TV.  They didn’t just relax and watch the show.  They stepped into action and got the support of 4 servers at the restaurant as well as customers curious to see why a whole group of people dressed alike decided to come and watch American Idol. 

So, my advice to ONE groups around the nation is to take some time to enjoy being a part of this great movement.  Get together and celebrate your local triumphs and enjoy your new friends.  Keep up the great work and welcome to the new Idol ONE members.

McCain Declares, ONE is there

Apr 26th, 2007 9:00 PM EST
By matthew.bartlett

Senator McCain came to New Hampshire yesterday to officially announce his campaign to be the next President of the United States.

At his Portsmouth speech, there were five ONE members in the front row to make sure he saw the ONE Campaign white bands and black ONE shirts at the beginning of his own campaign.

Later in the day in the cold Manchester rain, I got a chance to speak with Senator McCain as he made his way to his campaign bus.  In a crowd of people, I told him to fight AIDS and poverty in Africa.  Senator McCain stopped for a brief moment and looked me in the eye and said “Yes I will…you bet I will.”

All day long I was running into people wearing the ONE band and coming out to show support for the world’s poorest people.  It is going to be a long campaign season, but raising our voices and coming together as ONE, we will ensure that global health and global poverty is a campaign priority for both parties and all candidates

We’re at 43

Apr 26th, 2007 2:00 PM EST
By Weldon Kennedy

Since last Monday, ONE members have been writing and calling their senators asking them to sign on to the “Feinstein-Hagel” Dear Colleague letter asking for $39.8 billion for the international affairs budget (IAB). We want 60 signers by Friday, and right now we’re at 43.

If you don’t see both of your state’s senators below, please call 1-800-786-2663 and urge them to fully fund the IAB in 2008. Go here for some talking points for your call.

* Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI)
* Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM)
* Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA)
* Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
* Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC)

* Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
* Sen. Benjamin Cardin (D-MD)
* Sen. Robert Casey (D-PA)
* Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY)
* Sen. Norm Coleman (R-NM)

* Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)
* Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-CT)
* Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-NC)
* Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND)
* Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL)

* Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI)
* Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
* Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR)
* Sen. Chuck Hagel (D-NE)
* Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA)

* Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-HI)
* Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
* Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA)
* Sen. John Kerry (D-MA)
* Sen. Herb Kohl (D-WI)

* Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ)

* Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
* Sen. Joseph Lieberman (ID-CT)
* Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN)
* Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL)

* Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ)
* Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)
* Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL)
* Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL)
* Sen. Ken Salazar (D-CO)

* Sen. Jack Reed (D- RI)
* Sen. Gordon Smith (R-OR)
* Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
* Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
* Sen. John Sununu (R-NH)
* Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH)

* Sen. John Warner (R-VA)
* Sen. James Webb (D-VA)

The Idol Experience: Giving Back

Apr 26th, 2007 12:00 PM EST
By Stephanie Handler, ONE Regional Field Organizer

Lines formed down the street in front of Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown Los Angeles; hordes of Idol fans awaiting in eager anticipation for the highly publicized “Idol Gives Back”; a two-hour extravaganza focusing attention on extreme poverty in Africa. I had the great fortune of being an audience member during the west coast taping of the event. Although I couldn’t be the play-by-play reporter that I wanted to be, due to the fact that no electronic devices were allowed inside the venue, here is my take on what I experienced during “Idol Gives Back” tonight.

Inspiring. Motivating. Exciting. Sobering. Hopeful.

Inspiring because influential people came together for one reason; to make poverty history.

Motivating because each person that attended and watched “Idol Gives Back” has the power to truly make a difference in other peoples’ lives.

Exciting because what took place during “Idol Gives Back” has an opportunity to produce significant results. Millions of people had the opportunity to give back.

Sobering because of the realities of the world we live in and the poverty that others endure.

Hopeful because we can do something about the emergency of AIDS and the reality of extreme poverty.

Ellen Degeneres hosted the show at Walt Disney Concert Hall with her usual charisma and charm; while Ryan Seacrest aired live on a large video screen behind her, delivering to his audience from CBS Studios in the Fairfax District of Los Angeles. The “Idol Gives Back” two-hour episode was an event that at times brought a tear to my eye, at times brought on heartache, and at other times put a smile on my face. This night truly symbolized an amazing effort and opportunity for Americans to come together and make a difference.

Earth Wind and Fire performed a montage of hits. Simon Cowell’s creation, Il Divo, broke the audience out into a unison wave of glow sticks. Rascal Flatts, Kelly Clarkson together with Jeff Beck, and Annie Lennox performed hearfelt musical renditions. The most inspiring music by far was Josh Groban and the African Children’s Choir. It was difficult not to shed a tear during their performance of “You Raise Me Up”. However sad the realities of extreme poverty may be, the fact that an awareness was produced in the eyes of millions of Americans was truly captivating. An impressive list of sponsors and beneficiaries were highlighted during the show. And an even more impressive list of charities were included: Save the Children, Unicef, and The Global Fund to name a few.

Before the show ended, the donations were already surpassing an astounding 30,000,000. For me, by far the most anticipated part of the show was seeing Bono on-screen, a self-proclaimed “Irish rock star on American Idol”. His words clearly stating, “There isn’t one person watching this program tonight that cannot save a life.”

We, as Americans, have the profound opportunity to Make Poverty History. That’s what tonight was all about. Bring on the new ONE members. We are ready!

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