The state of New York, along with its biggest household names, will come together today (May 11) for Rise Up New York!, a virtual telethon to benefit its citizens heavily impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
New York’s largest poverty-fighting organization Robin Hood and iHeartMedia organized the benefit event to raise funds for Robin Hood’s relief and recovery efforts for the state, which has become the pandemic’s epicenter. All donations raised from tonight will help provide food, shelter, financial assistance, physical and mental health services, legal services and educational support for the most vulnerable New Yorkers trying to rebuild their lives.
Mariah Carey, Billy Joel, Bon Jovi, Sting and more unannounced A-list performers are set to take the stage remotely at the benefit hosted by Tina Fey, which will also feature special appearances from some other famous New York natives: N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Michael Strahan, Karlie Kloss, Angie Mar, Barbra Streisand, Ben Platt, Bette Midler, N.Y. Mayor Bill de Blasio, Chris Rock, Christopher Jackson, Cynthia Erivo, David Chang, Idina Menzel, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jennifer Lopez, Jimmy Fallon, Julianne Moore, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Robert De Niro, Spike Lee, Sutton Foster, Trevor Noah, New York Giants Super Bowl champions Eli Manning, Justin Tuck and Phil Simms, as well as frontline workers sharing their real-life accounts.
“New York City is at the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. This crisis has created a whole new set of challenges for the millions of New Yorkers who already struggled to make ends meet,” said Robin Hood CEO Wes Moore in a press statement. “This is a moment where we must all come together and rise up together as a community in support of our neighbors and in support of one another.”
Rise Up New York! will air citywide on all New York City TV stations as well as Spectrum News NY1, News 12, RSN SportsNet New York/SNY, and YES Network from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET. For those tuning in radio, iHeartMedia and Entercom will simulcast the special from all stations. Head to Robin Hood’s website for a complete listing of New York’s broadcast TV stations and radio stations. For nationwide coverage, check CNN, CNBC, MTV, MSG Network, AMC Networks, and Cheddar’s TV channels and SiriusXM’s radio broadcast. ABC News Live, NBC News Now, NowThis Media, Facebook Live and Live X Live will also air the hour-long telethon online.
