LATV Festival

NATPE’s Reality Innovator Award was created to recognize outstanding achievement in reality programming. Recipients of the award have showcased extraordinary passion and leadership, leveraging their platform in new and innovative ways not seen before. This year’s recipient is American Idol for Idol Gives Back. American Idol has been a ratings juggernaut since its first season, most recently setting another voting record when 97.5 million votes were cast in its season seven finale. Back when Idol was crowning its first winner, Kelly Clarkson, who would’ve thought that a show promising the American dream to one would help millions more realize their own dreams through Idol Gives Back? Having aired back in April, Idol Gives Back raised more money in one night than many organizations and companies hope to generate for their philanthropies in one year. From Reese Witherspoon to Mariah Carey to Robin Williams to Miley Cyrus, 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 crossed the pond. Prime Minister of Great Britain 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 social enterprise. Last year’s show raised $76 million for the Idol Gives Back Foundation. No doubt that this year’s total will surpass expectations.