‘Hope for Haiti Now’ Telethon Sets New Record for Funds Raised

George Clooney's star-studded, global benefit Friday night is already setting new records.

"Hope for Haiti Now" announced that it has raised more than $58 million to date, surpassing Hurricane Katrina telethons and public donations. The preliminary figure includes donations made via phone, online, and mobile – what the figure doesn’t include are sums donated by corporations and large private donors, or iTunes sales figures, which are still being calculated.

"The public has set a new standard of giving for a relief telethon with 'Hope for Haiti Now,' and the donations continue to come in -- people can still contribute 24/7 via phone, web and text," said Lisa Paulsen, President & CEO of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization providing philanthropic support to "Hope for Haiti Now."