By Taryn Bird

American Idol has taken America by storm and entered the homes of 30 million every week. But who thought that a show that promised the American dream to one lucky contestant would be giving back so much more?  Idol Gives Back aired on Fox on Wednesday, April 9 and raised more money in one night than many organizations and companies can hope to raise for their philanthropies in one year.

The Idol Gives Back Foundation supports AIDS programs in Africa, after school education programs in the southern U.S., literacy initiatives in Kentucky, and relocation efforts in New Orleans, just to name a few.

From Reese Witherspoon to Gloria Estefan to Robin Williams to Miley Cyris, Idol Gives Back brought in the celebrities by the dozens—and corporate partners, too. Forest Whitaker paired up with ExxonMobil to highlight Malaria in Africa , American Idol Contestants wore Gap’s Red Campaign t-shirts, and Apples’ ITunes will give all proceeds from Idol Gives Back downloads to the  Idol Gives Back Foundation. Other partners included Coca-Cola, AT&T, Allstate, New Corporation and MAC Aids Fund.

Idol Gives Back even reached Great Britain. Prime Minister Gordon Brown pledged to donate 20 million mosquito nets to help prevent malaria in Africa, which has an estimated value of $200 million. 

The pairing of celebrities and the corporate community proved successful in raising awareness and money for worthy causes. Partnerships solve problems and Idol Gives Back shows that so much more can be done together, instead of going it alone. 

Last year’s show raised $76 million for the Idol Gives Back Foundation. No doubt that this year’s total will surpass expectations. Check out the list of beneficiary organizations.