“Glee” star Darren Criss took to Twitter (@DarrenCriss) Friday to urge fans to donate to the victims of supertyphoon Yolanda, which wrought destruction in Eastern Visayas a week ago.
He asked that they give at least $25 to the United Nations World Food Programme, which will help fund emergency meals for the survivors of the disaster.
Donors can then take a photo of their transaction, e-mail it to dcnotalone@gmail.com, and in return, Criss will send them an autographed postcard that says “You’re not alone”. All the donors’ names will also be printed on the same.
In a post on his website, he said his mother and most of his family hail from the Philippines, specifically Cebu. “…As a result I have always been proud of my Filipino heritage, as well as lucky enough to feel the tremendous support of the Filipino community throughout my life as an artist,” he wrote.
Criss, who plays the openly gay student Blaine Anderson on the musical show, thanked those who made their concern about his family back in the Philippines known, and conveyed at the same time his solidarity with the victims of the calamity.
He added that he hoped people would pass on his plea for donations, saying, “People are in need now.” He encouraged them to send their donations by Monday, November 18.
As of early afternoon Friday, Manila time, more than 150 have donated — less than an hour after his post.
Criss is quite close to Lea Salonga. In 2011, the two performed Aladdin’s “A Whole New World” on stage at the Billboard/Hollywood Reporter Film and TV Music Conference in Los Angeles. This week they were at a New York piano bar together, where they also performed a few songs.
source: interaksyon.com