May 14, 2009 14:36

Alicia Keys asks 'Idol' fans to donate $5 to AIDS

Singer made appeal on last night’s top-rated TV show

Alicia Keys appeared on ‘American Idol’ last night (May 13) to ask fans of the programme to donate $5 to helping people with HIV and AIDS in Africa.

The donation, which can be made by texting the word "alive" to 90999, will go to Keys’ ‘Keep A Child Alive’ charity, which she co-founded.

Each year, Keys hosts the Black Ball to raise money for the organisation and the most recent ball honoured ‘Idol’ creator Simon Fuller.

Rwandan teen rapper Noah performed at the ball, and was invited on the top-rated TV show by Fuller, appearing alongside Keys last night.

"You buy four of your favorite ring tones and that's what you spend, if not more," Keys said, according to the Associated Press. "It puts everything into perspective ... For the cost of probably less than you would spend at Starbucks, you can help someone like Noah."

Donations can be made until June 1, and the $5 donation will appear on each donor’s phone bill.

--By our New York staff.
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