Alicia Keys appeared on Wednesday night’s “American Idol” program to drum up $5 donations toward the organization Keep a Child Alive by texting the word “alive” to 90999.
The charity, co-founded by Keys, aims to bring medicine and medical care to children and families with HIV/AIDS in Africa and India.
During her appearance, Keys also introduced a beneficiary of the charity, 15-year-old Rwandan rapper Noah, who performed on the show. The teen entertainer sings about the AIDS pandemic and life in Rwanda.
“He’s dealt with probably more than any of us will ever have to in our entire lifetime,” Keys told the Associated Press Wednesday. “For us to help people like him in his situation with Keep a Child Alive, and with everyone watching being able to know that even with all the hardships they might be going through, there’s always someone going through something far worse, so to help someone other than yourself is really a noble thing to do.”
Keys began the Text ALIVE Challenge while touring with her latest album, “As I Am.”
“It was really the first time anything like that had been done,” she said. “It was successful enough to encourage us to keep spreading the word in a forum like this.”
The seeds of her “Idol” appearance were planted last year at Keys’ annual charity gala, the Black Ball, where “Idol” creator Simon Fuller was honored. Noah performed at the event, and Fuller “was so taken by his story” that he invited Noah to appear on the hit show, Keys said.
Donation texts will be accepted until June 1. The $5 charge will appear on donors’ phone bill.
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