Charitable Gift Giving from Celebrities, Politicians and Media Continues for Tsunami Relief Efforts

Celebrities, such as Sandra Bullock and Leonardo DiCaprio, and politicians, including former Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush, are making large charitable gifts, donations and appeals to the masses to also contribute to south asia tsunami relief agencies. NBC has also planned a celebrity-filled TV benefit.

Former presidents Clinton and Bush appealed to Americans to contribute charitable gifts to the massive aid effort as well. The American Red Cross said it received a $1 million donation from Bullock for tsunami relief in South Asia and East Africa. Leonardo DiCaprio gave a "sizable" charitable gift to UNICEF, targeted for aid to devastated areas of Thailand.

NBC plans to simulcast a benefit special tomorrow, January 15th, that will feature celebrities and musical performances. The program is scheduled to air live on the U.S. East Coast with a tape delay to the West Coast. Phone lines for viewer gift donations will be provided at the same time. The NBC telecast will be similar to the two-hour telethon that all four major U.S. TV networks aired 10 days after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks which raised more than $150 million in gift pledges.

News Corp. Chairman Rupert Murdoch has also made a $1 million contribution to tsunami relief and reconstruction. The conglomerate has also pledged to match employee donations dollar for dollar.