Washington, DC – Last night’s American Idol special, “Idol Gives Back”, inspired over 70,000 Americans to join ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History. “Idol Gives Back” raised millions of dollars from Idol fans for relief work and also raised awareness for the ONE Campaign, which is working on the ground in local communities to influence our leaders to do more to fight extreme poverty and global disease.

“People say you can’t be the generation that ends brutal, stupid poverty, but we can and we will,” Bono, U2’s lead singer and leading spokesman for ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History, said in a video message to the American Idol audience last night.

“I have been in front of 70,000 people here in LA and it’s a pretty amazing feeling. I can’t think of any feeling better except perhaps the feeling that you can save somebody’s life and there is not one person watching this program tonight who cannot save a life,” he said.

“The opportunity to speak with American Idol’s viewers about how they can get involved in the ONE Campaign in their own communities in order to fight extreme poverty and AIDS in Africa was unique,” Susan McCue said, the ONE Campaign’s CEO. “Idol’s audience is attentive and engaged, and they will be an amazingly strong asset in the ONE Campaign’s fight to end extreme poverty in our lifetime. Together, we will be able to say in one very loud, very clear voice to America’s leaders: These issues demand America’s attention and action.”

Bono appeared on “Idol Gives Back” on behalf of ONE: The Campaign to Make Poverty History. Bono’s appearance was a continuation of his ongoing efforts to fight AIDS and poverty in Africa.