Dozens of musicians and celebrities helped spearhead a recent telethon for Haiti relief that proved to be a huge hit.

The LIME CVM TV Telethon, which was staged recently in Kingston, Jamaica and broadcast to CMC affiliated television and cable stations across the Caribbean has so far raised close to US $260,000 for the earthquake relief effort in Haiti.

As the telethon’s presenting sponsor LIME led the way with a US $200,000 donation which included LIME’s corporate donation, company-matched contributions from employees and proceeds from LIME customers’ text donations.  The company’s contribution was presented on-air by Chief Marketing Officer Chris Dehring and Managing Director for Jamaica and Cayman Geoff Houston.

The star-studded event, which was staged in the ballroom of the Hilton Kingston Hotel, featured performances and personal appeals from some of the region’s brightest stars including international superstar Shaggy, Soca Maestro Machel Montano and Caribbean diva, Alison Hines. 

Also giving strong support were reggae veterans Freddie McGregor, Marcia Griffith and Judy Mowatt as well as up-and-coming talents, Tessanne Chin, Tami Chynn, Chino and Ding Dong.

In addition to performing, several celebrities manned the phones throughout the event taking pledges from the public.  LIME provided a toll-free number for calls from across the region and individuals, groups and corporations could make donations via credit card or pledge cash to be collected at a later date.  Contributions could also be made via text message.

The telethon featured a steady stream of solid performances by some of the Caribbean’s leading artistes interspersed with recorded appeals from several prominent Jamaican citizens including Prime Minister Bruce Golding, Opposition Leader Portia Simpson Miller and LIME’s CMO, Chris Dehring.