Kris Allen’s Inspiring Trip To Haiti
UPDATE: Kris tweets his return, “Just got back from a very inspiring trip to Haiti. The smiles that we saw today were very bright.”
Kris Allen arrived in Haiti today, to help with the relief efforts in the earthquake-ravaged Caribbean nation. A couple of photos, from Dominic MacSorley of the humanitarian organization, Concern, tweeted a couple of photos of Kris as he visited the Place de la Paix camp for 1,00 displaced in Port au Prince..
MacSorley tweeted, “off to meet Kris Allen, Amercian Idol – visiting Concern baby tent -a quiet ‘get well’ space in a crowded camp for mothers and children…Ok Concern Haiti officially loves American Idol Kris Allen -he’s so cool & even sang Amazing Grace to mothers & children in our baby tent”
MacSorley tweeted two photos. Above, Kris sings “Amazing Grace” to the kids. After the jump, another photo of Kris performing for camp-dwellers.
Photo after the JUMP…
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Tags: 145 Responses to “Kris Allen’s Inspiring Trip To Haiti”
Kris is not the first Idol to do charity work and he certainly won’t be the last. The problem I have that unfortunately, the focus of this trip has been more about Kris – than the people of Haiti. It should not be about how generous and wonderful Kris is as person. I have no interest in seeing a PR pic of Kris swinging a sledgehammer. It should be about victims of this disaster. I want to hear more about what is being done, the personal experiences.
AML, why would you find it odd? It’s entirely in keeping with Kris’ personality to avoid self-promotion. In fact, he’s been criticized for not tooting his own horn enough during his radio station promo visits. As others have mentioned, he has participated in several charitable events since finishing the Idol tour and releasing his album but there were no major news organizations following him around at those times. On this Haiti trip, he went as the representative of Idol Gives Back, which of course needed pictures and video for when they ask home viewers for donations later this AI season.
The focus of the trip was not about Kris. But I’m not sure you understand how Idol Gives Back works. They use the faces, voices and personalities of famous Idol alumni as the links to the charitable endeavours in need, and leverage the audience’s support of their Idol favourites into donations to those causes.
It’s also the reason why every charity infomercial on tv features popular celebrities asking for donations. While you may think pictures of the disasters and interviews with the victims ought to be enough to get folks to donate, it’s been shown that charity funding drives are more successful when celebrities lend their voices to the efforts.
But, why is there a need to say that others would go too? It’s like when someone compliments Kris on being a good musician, others take it to mean that there have never been any other musicians in the history of AI, or because Adam doesn’t play an instrument that means that he is somehow less than Kris. Why even jump to those conclusions just because someone said something nice about Kris. Yes, others have gone on these types of trips before, we all know that, so why is there a need to downplay Kris’ actions. Congratulating Kris for going isn’t putting down anyone else.
Pictures of Kris in Haiti are pretty relevant on an Idol blog. I’ll wait and view the footage before I decide that it is all about Kris and not Haiti, you know?
That’s what I’m wondering, too. This thread is about Kris going to Haiti, right? I don’t see why others need to be brought into it at all, either as a slight to the other Idols or to play down any importance in Kris’ visit. This is completely independent of whether or not other Idols do charity work, or even Kris’ previous or future charity work… it’s his trip to Haiti. And we’ll see on Idol when we see the footage exactly what they are doing with it.
I suspect the video footage of Kris in Haiti will be edited nicely to include a lot of information for people interested in donating. I think the focus will be on Haiti and not Kris.
Kris was the perfect rep for IGB to go to Haiti. I hope this brings attention to the continued need there as it is intended to do, and not to a cynical world (or US) instead. That would be really sad, imo.
Where did you get this veiw? Is it the press conference scheduled for Monday where reporters have been told that they can only ask Kris about the trip to Haiti, but nothing else, not AI, his album, Adam, or anything else that is not directly related to the trip. Is it the fact that Kris visited five camps yesterday, so that he can have video to show on Thursday about what people are going through, so that it can be used in this year’s IGB? Was it Kris passing out food to people, or helping to build a house, which one of those makes you think that it was all about Kris?
I think the itinerary was coordinated by IGB, not Kris. I’m sure Kris did what he was asked to do. I think he will do a great job, however, and it will be a very moving segment on IGB.
I think that might have to do with the fact that one website (was it Yahoo?) proclaimed Kris Allen an “American Hero” after he announced that he was going to Haiti to do volunteer work. Now it turns out to be a one day photo op for IGB and perhaps people feel that the “American Hero” label attached to Kris was all a bit overblown and much ado about nothing. Not saying Kris overstated things but the media certainly did when the news was first announced.
I am proud of Kris’s trip to Haiti. Nevermind how long he was there, whos idea it was for him to go, whether its all about him and not the people of Haiti…blah, blah, blah. His trip and the footage on Idol on Thursday will bring awareness to millions of people, and in the end thats a good thing. As for the overblown comment, In my opinion I think Kris will be going back to Haiti, that this one day trip was for IGB and his original intentions had to be pushed back to accomadate this trip. But, I’m sure if that does happen, certain people will have something to say about that too.
Kris is my American hero too.
Let’s start a slow clap, you ready…Clap, Clap, clap…
Go Kris!
No one is putting down Kris by saying that others have done the same thing before and will in the future. I don’t see that those things are tied together. Well for me they aren’t, I can’t speak for others. I was just saying that doing this is a function of Idol, Kris is the one that happens to represent Idol in this, so good job by him and kudos. I just don’t think that anyone would have said no, is all.
I have admired the work Kris did before Idol to help people, and the continuing work he does outside of Idol, like the stuff in Rwanada. And yes, I admire him, always have, for his wanting to go to Haiti and help.
And now Kris as part of IGB, gets to help Haiti with raising money on the show next week, and that’s the important thing. I’m sure he’s grateful and honoured to do be a part of this. And I’m sure he did a great job. I hope he gets to go back to do the hands-on work he said he wants to do.
THIS… ITA. There is al lot of interactions between Haiti and Quebec because we share a common language and in the past there are been way too much kidnapping of ‘apparently’ wealthy people from Quebec. So bodyguards are no luxury.
The cover of the Haiti situation is meant to be aired on Idol next Thursday; it’s not a CNN cover on the spot; there is nothing unfortunate about it so far in my opinion. Publicity just aims at getting peoplie to watch this on Thursday.
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I’ve been reading comments about other people, other idols would have done the same and in that respect why the high praise for Kris? People always discuss the motives for celebrity to do charity work and I’m sure it happens that some are doing it to either look good or to get more publicity; in Kris’s case and because of his past actions in this aread, we just know it’s a continuation of his past behavior and in my opinion this is why he’s getting such praises. It’s all ok and for all the other persons contributing to charity in an interested way, all I have to say is well done indeed because at the end it’s the results that count.
We can’t know what’s in a person’s heart for sure. We can only judge by what we see them do and what we hear them say. Personally, I believe Kris did this because #1 he wanted to do something to help as he’s done before, and #2 because he was asked to do it as part of the IGB fundraiser. Neither of those are bad reasons.
Wait, you mean the press corps use hyperbole to grab attention to their stories? Go figure.
I just saw the video of the 25th anniversary remake of We Are The World for Haiti. All those famous musicians and entertainers lending their voices to make a song to raise awareness and money. I also read a comment the Lionel Ritchie made that sadly, sometimes it takes a hit single to get people’s attention, to care and to give. Celebrities do influence people and those that choose to use their fame to help are okay by me.
aidwkr (Dominic Macsorley – tweeting about a lifetime spent working with an international humanitarian aid agency@concern):
I think it summarizes a lot that has been said in this thread!
I wish that Kris is more selfish and just think of Kris , Kris and Kris only, then maybe I won’t agonize so much about his album sale. If only he’ll refuse to answer any non- Kris questions in interviews and just promote himself.
Alas, he is not like that. He is humble, down to earth and generous sometimes to a fault, IMO. I’m just shaking my head on some people that still questioning his “motives”.
I can’t wait for his appearance next Thursday and hopefully he’ll sing something. I hope people will watch AI first at 8:00pm ,and then switch to Ladies free skate figure skating.
Oh well I don’t doubt for one second that Kris’s wanting to do this, was to help people out, and all the publicity stuff that is associated, is necessary and the point of this trip. Which is to raise money/help Haiti. AI has a huge audience, and this is a chance to reach out to them and hopefully get some of those people to donate. And using Idol and it’s publicity, to get on news channels and so in that way as well, keep up awareness up of Haiti, for continued support.
So yeah, no questions from me about this trip, or Kris’s motives. Kris is cool for doing this, and good will come from it.
OK, now I’m really happy about Kris’ visit: went on twitter and the full caption under the photo of him singing in the tent full of women and children says that another purpose of the tent was to provide a safe and quiet place for the mothers to breastfeed. I’m a IBCLC (international board-certified lactation consultant) and we want the focus to be supporting the mother so she can then feed her baby—-better outcomes for the babies. SO COOL that Kris was in that tent. Also, makes me want to support the organization that has that tent. So, just having that tiny twitpic out there may cause more support for these organizations.
ITA-Truthiness. No one is doubting that Kris is a good person. I’m not sure what people are upset about? I think the point was that this is an IGB driven event and not a Kris driven event. Having said that, he will make a fine spokesperson and IGB will raise a lot of money for Haiti. There is nothing negative in that. The “American Hero” headline was unfortunate, but hey, it’s not like he’s the first idol to get an overblown headline.
I like Kris just fine, but I think the headline is overblown, just like I think calling Adam a rock gawd is overblown. It’s no biggie. It’s what some fans and some media do. And it gives us something to talk about.
Kris’s Haiti trip will touch 20 million plus people who have open minds and open hearts. The cynical-hearted will remain just that, with closed minds and closed pocketbooks. Kris, I’m sure, will happily endure the slings and arrows of the cynics if it means gaining awarness and support for Haiti. A small price to pay compared to the suffering of the Haiti people.
I see nothing wrong with “American Hero.” We need more heroes in life and less villains. We should all try to be heroes in little ways when we can.
Reminder:
UGH. Will be deleting posts. Watch for it.
Reminder:
No lecturing or telling posters off
Don’t tell posters what to post or attempt to dictate the discussion
Keep focused on the subject of the post, which is KRIS (And we’re talking about Adam in this thread because???)
No blog on blog talk! What goes on in other threads is 100% off topic
I think I know why this trip was make on Friday and will be aired on next Thur and not wait till IGB in April. I subscribed to irs.gov for tax information and got this email yesterday:
“WASHINGTON — Taxpayers wishing to claim their Haiti relief donations on the tax return they are filling out this season must make those donations by the end of this month, according to the Internal Revenue Service.
Individuals and corporations have until midnight on Sunday, Feb. 28, to make cash contributions to charities providing earthquake relief in Haiti. These contributions can be claimed on either a 2009 or 2010 return, but not both…..”
I tried to post this earlier, but we have another great tweet from one of the Aid workers who Kris met yesterday:
http://twitter.com/aidwkr
I hope Kris gets to see it, especially since this worker realizes, more than any of us do, the importance of Kris’ trip, and he actually knows what Kris did while he was in Haiti.
Actually, I don’t think that yesterday’s visit is what Kris was referring to last month. In an interview, Kris said that his trip to Haiti wasn’t connected to AI or IGB. Kris has a friend who routinely makes humanitarian trips, so Kris might have been going with him, but something happened, maybe it was the extra stops on the Asia promo tour, or maybe it was concerns about security. Either what, I don’t think the media misconstrued what was going on. Kris also stated that he was going to Haiti in March, he actually never mentioned Friday’s trip until the UN Foundation released the press release.
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To me this comment from the Salvation Army man sums up the most important reason why Kris has gone to Haiti- to keep the interest in Haiti alive & help promote ongoing work. That Kris seemed to make an impact on those around him is a real bonus, which will make it easier for him to return at a later stage!!!
I feel that Kris was very willing/happy to do whatever he could to help the people of Haiti, just like he has done in many other instances with his prior missionary work before he became famous.
In this instance, he had an opportunity to raise awareness to the dire situation in Haiti because of his fame on AI, in conjunction with IGB. Obviously there have been numerous situations where famous people have gotten involved with charity work – Angeline Jolie being one of the most prominent – and when she and other famous people make these trips they are well documented so the media can report about them, which raises awareness about issues that otherwise would not be heard of by most of the American people.
The feedback we have gotten from informed folks, on-site in Haiti and intimately involved with the needs of the Haitians, is (IMO) very telling about the positive impact of Kris Allen’s visit. They see the Haitians day in and day out, and were able to comment on his positive impact to the mothers, children and others in need.
As a fan of AI, and Kris, I am happy to see that he had the opportunity to bring smiles to the faces of the needy Haitians, and raise awareness about this very important issue. I will most definitely be picking up the phone to donate for this important cause.
How about if we raise our hands in the air, start swaying from side to side and sing Kumbayah?
Peace. 
I’m really looking forward to next week when they show IGB..and weeks after that. To seeing Kris and what he did in Haiti. To hearing about the added support that would come in because of this trip or that show. To seeing more hits on the UN video posted in KAofficial site about what the org is doing. To the added awareness all this would bring about…. And to seeing more relief distributed in Haiti and more support brought in to help in rebuilding.
Hopefully, the relief and rebuilding would come in much faster as the people have already suffered so much as it is.
Go Kris! Go Idol! Go go go to all the organizations and people supporting Haiti!
I like that attitude
Here’s another blog from Haiti that mentions Kris’s visit.
“Yesterday, we took Kris Allen – last year’s American Idol winner – on a tour of one of these sites, in Place de la Paix. It is a breathtaking scene, a massive labyrinth of temporary shelters, crammed together but well organised, supplied with water, latrines, and a population of deeply welcoming people, delighted to chat about our respective philosophies, the future of Haiti, the international system, footballers, and rock stars.
Out of nowhere a kid came up and started rapping with Kris Allen, PLAYING GUITAR ON A CONDOM [emphasis added by me - girlygirl]. Hilarity ensued. Amazing scene. I hope the US showbiz industry isn’t too nervous to show it.”
http://haititales.wordpress.com/2010/02/20/scenes-and-portaits-in-the-streets-and-camps-of-port-au-prince/
love your comment oceana
girlygirl, how do you play guitar on a condom? lol
and ..omg I wish this will be broadcast whatever this playing on condom means… it sounds so fun!!!!
One thing I’d like to point out is that Kris’s time is far different post-idol than pre-idol. It is not completely his own and he can’t just act on a whim to go to Haiti or even go home to Arkansas. Schedules are drawn up in advance, meetings set, promotional tours made and are not so easy to reschedule. I’m certain Kris was itching to get to Haiti as a private citizen/volunteer, but his responsibilities had to be met. David Cook stated he negotiated for two weeks vacation time after the IDOL TOUR. The key word is “negotiate”. These are real world jobs here and commitments need to be met like all professionals/employees have to do.
If Kris had his way he would have been there in February and would have probably stayed as long as he could. Unfortunately, those college days when he only answered to himself and could focus completely on humanitarian causes are long past. I’m certain there will be a day when he can devote more time to good works, a priority of his that has been mentioned by him on more than one occasion.
Evanjane, very well said.
It is so great for Kris Allen to do this. Bottomline.
Thank you all for the links to the various blogs and tweets. I’ve been reading what the various workers from different organizations have been writing. Conditions there are horrendous and spirits get low. I greatly admire and appreciate these people.
I laughed at the ‘playing guitar on a condom’ … I’m guessing he meant ‘with’ as in using a wrapped condom as a pick. I hope they do show that along with Amazing Grace.
Speaking of ‘Amazing Grace’, I noticed that Dominic Macsurly also tweeted Joan Baez today.
@joancbaez Joan, Im in Haiti where Ilisten to your voice, music is back & the spirit of the people can not be buried beneath the rubble
I think Kris made a difference in some lives he touched yesterday.
Well said. I looked at some of the pictures on the site that girlygirl linked to, and I almost cried, but then I couldn’t help but smile at the look of hope on the faces of some of the children.
Evanjane, you make a great point. Not only are things scheduled in advance, but they are also scheduled at the last minute. Kris’ trip to Kuala Lumpur seemed to come about just a week before it happened.
Thank you girlygirl for that link. Those pictures of the Haitian families and children were beautiful.
Very happy that Kris had this chance to visit and continue the awareness for Haiti and their needs.
some UN footage of Kris in Haiti!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2YodWHu-6Q&eurl=http%3A//www.youtube.com/unitednations%23p/search/0/Q2YodWHu-6Q&feature=player_profilepage
Out of nowhere a kid came up and started rapping with Kris Allen, PLAYING GUITAR ON A CONDOM
I have no idea how I reversed what should have been quoted above.
Please excuse my “back asswards”.LOL
Ditto.. Thank you Girlygirl! I think it is very cool that Kris was given the opportunity to do this and to use AI as a platform to bring more awareness to the situation in Haiti.
Sidenote: Watching the videos and reading the blogs has really opened my eyes to the true unknown heroes of disasters like this. It’s the volunteers who are in the trenches day in and day out doing everything they can to make life a little more bearable for people who have lost everything. I am also amazed at the spirit of the Haitians. It really puts a lot of things into perspective and shines a light on what is really important.
Nice post, evanjane. TwigLA, thanks for the condon explanation. I think that makes sense> I couldn’t figure it out before.
Great pics MJ. I’m happy that Kris finally had the opportunity to go to Haiti, with his hectic schedule and recent concerts in Asia that is. I like Kris, plenty!!! He is so adorable. I will always love Kradam & Kradison. It is bittersweet to reminisce of the IdolLive tour last summer. Back on topic: Bravo to Kris and to all the volunteers continuing to assist and provide their time and energy.