BET CHANNEL COVID RELIEF FUND RAISES USD 16 MILLION DURING BROADCAST SPECIAL

BET’s Covid Relief Fund raised over USD 16 million during the broadcast special, “Saving Ourselves: A BET COVID-19 Relief Effort,” which doubles the goal the network set for itself. The funds will contribute to over 50 organizations across the country collecting emergency resources directly to provide support to African-American communities that have been impacted by Covid-19. BET partnered with United Way Worldwide to receive grants from Blue Meridian Partners, Charles, and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, and The Ford Foundation and donations from corporate brands, such as Facebook, Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Toyota, Salesforce, McDonald’s, BNY Mellon, AmEx, AARP, Pine-Sol, Morgan Stanley, TJX, WW (formerly Weight Watchers), NBA, RLJ Companies, Popeyes, Chicago Trading Company, and Advancing Black Pathways. “I am forever grateful to the talent and production team who pulled off that extraordinary show from home,” said Scott Mills, President of BET. We will continue this work, and we will continue to raise funds to assist those that need it most.”

The community partners the funds will be disbursed to include Feeding America, New York Urban League, Bronx Works, YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago, My Block, My Hood, My City, Urban League of Louisiana, and many others. The first $4M gathered in donations has doubled the impact through matching grants from Blue Meridian Partners and Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation. The first contributions were led by a group of African American business leaders who immediately offered support. “With our economy suddenly at a standstill and millions of people losing jobs, there is a social imperative for us to help our nation’s most vulnerable meet their basic needs," said David Tepper, one of the philanthropic partners whose contributions helped fund Blue Meridian’s emergency relief efforts along with JPB Foundation and others.

BET’s collaboration with United Way Worldwide is predicated on the organization’s presence in 95% of communities across the United States. United way expressed its plans to continue working with the network to provide relief. “We are proud to have partnered with BET on such a successful program event, and we are encouraged by the tremendous outpouring of support we have seen from individuals and major corporations to the BET COVID-19 Relief Fund,” said Stan Little, Chief Experience Officer for United Way Worldwide. 

The two-hour broadcast special was co-hosted by actor Anthony Anderson, Grammy Award-Winning Singer and actress Kelly Rowland, TV personality Terrence J, and actress Regina Hall. Some of the performances included Alicia Keys with a tribute to New York City with her song “New York State of Mind,”  Usher, Jhené Aiko, Kirk Franklin with a collaboration between Tyrese Gibson, Jonathan McReynolds, Kelly Price, and several others. The special also featured appearances from Whoopi Goldberg, Diddy, Queen Latifah, Fat Joe, and Remy Ma. Celebrity guest appearances included Ciara and Tiffany Haddish in a dance battle, judged by DJ D-Nice, Halle Berry, Kevin Hart, DJ Khaled, Common, Lizzo, Charlamagne Tha God, and more