Glitzy world AIDS charity raises $1m million

It took longer than many thought -- and comedians had a laugh at their expense -- but singer Alicia Keys and her celebrity friends raised $1 million for an AIDS charity and, with it, lived to tweet again.

Keys and her Keep a Child Alive charity co-founder Leigh Blake on Monday said their widely-followed "digital death" campaign reached its $1 million goal after pharmaceutical entrepreneur Stewart Rahr pitched in $500,000.

At stake, along with raising funds to help millions of children and families living with AIDs in Africa and India, were the digital lives of celebrities who vowed to stay off social networking websites Twitter and Facebook until the $1 million was raised.


The celebrities included Justin Timberlake, Ryan Seacrest, Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian and Usher. Their campaign launched on World AIDS Day, December 1, amid great fan fare with the expectation it would quickly reach its goal.

After all, the celebrities all have millions of fans. Lady Gaga boasts 7.3 million followers on Twitter, alone. Justin Timberlake has 3.6 million, and Seacrest has 3.7 million.

Problem was, it took longer than many celebrity watchers thought, and as donations reached only $100,000 then $200,000, the stars became the butt of jokes on the Web, TV and radio. Their popularity -- or lack thereof -- was questioned, as was their fans' desire to keep them digitally dead.

But on Monday, the stars emerged from their coffins.

"So stoked to be back on twitter! Special shout out to Stewie Rah Rah for his generous donation," Seacrest tweeted.

"I'm back from the dead! Thank you all so much for your donations and contributions! I have missed u all so much!!!," Kardashian posted on Twitter.

For its part, Keep a Child Alive said, "although we never expected to raise $1 million overnight, we are completely blown away that we were able to achieve our goal in less than a week." The group said more than 3,600 people participated in the campaign by sacrificing their own digital lives.

Rahr owned and operated a New York-based pharmaceutical distribution business that he recently sold. He learned of Keep a Child Alive earlier this year, the charity said.

Alicia Keys Is Enjoying Her Motherhood

Singer Alicia Keys, who has given birth to her first child with husband Swizz Beatz says that she had never imagined that being a mother will be so fulfilling.

The couple have named their firstborn Egypt Daoud Dean, after his father whose real name is Kasseem Dean. The 29-year-old singer with hits such as 'Empire State of Mind' to her name says that her son has made her fall in love all over again. A post by the singer on her Twitter page says that the feeling that she is experiencing at present is nothing less than heavenly bliss. She goes on to thank her fans for the love and support that they have shown, Swizz Beatz, too thanking the couple's fans and asking for their prayers for his 'superwoman' wife.

Alicia Keys married rapper Swizz Beatz in the July this year. The duo had met while working on their album "I Look To You". The couple's July Wedding
was attended by popular names in the music industry including Bono and Queen Latifah. Swizz Beatz has two sons and a daughter from his previous relationships.

Alicia Keys is the winner of 12 Grammy Awards in the course of a career spanning almost ten years and has already sold more than 30 million copies of albums worldwide since the release of her first album "Songs In A Minor".

Did Alicia Keys Give Birth?

According to popular gossip website, Mediatakeout.com, Alicia Keys and her husband Swizz Beatz, have given birth. According to the website’s report, she checked into the St. Lukes Roosevelt Hospital in New York City yesterday, October 14th. She was fittingly placed in the special ward designated for celebrities.

The child, a son, was named Egypt Dean. He will be Key’s first child and the third for Beatz. For those who have followed the couple, their union comes with a lot of controversy.

Beatz was married when he and Keys started dating. He claims that the relationship began after he and his wife separated. She claims differently. In fact, she has claimed to not have known about the affair for years prior to it finally being revealed.

Well, I guess that’s in the past now. Both have seemed to move on with Swizz marrying and then impregnating the pop singer, Alicia Keys.

Alicia Keys 'blesses baby in ceremony'

Alicia Keys and fiancé Swizz Beatz have taken part in a Zulu ceremony to bless their unborn baby.

The pair, who were in South Africa for the World Cup kick-off concert, took part in the Durban ritual while wearing traditional tribal beads and standing under a fig tree which is believed by locals to have healing properties.

Keys was given the ceremony as a gift for her charity work with local children's charity Bobbi Bear, reports the Daily Mail.

Bobbi Bear director Jackie Bradfield said: "Alicia has been made part of the tribal family because she really reached out to the people here.

"Two female priests who practise a mix of Christianity and tribal customs chose new names for her and the unborn child, as a mark of respect. The names were kept between them, but were chosen to reflect Alicia's character."

She added: "Alicia had to do a special dance with drums banging in the background, and was embraced by abused children who she has helped.

"She was chosen for the ceremony as a thankyou, because she has done a lot to keep children's lives afloat and for us to afford our support staff."

Keys announced the pregnancy, as well as her engagement to Beatz, last month.

I can't wait to be a mom

Alicia Keys has revealed that she "can't wait" to become a mother.

The Grammy-winning singer, who recently confirmed her engagement and pregnancy with fiancé, producer Swizz Beatz, has credited her mother as a source of inspiration for great parenting.

Speaking to The Mirror, the 29-year-old said: "I can’t wait to become a mum. No question. It’s the most beautiful gift in the world. Truly a gift from God.

"I have an amazing mother – she is a best friend to me. And I would like to be the same to my child."

Beatz, who already has two children from previous relationships, added: "Everyone says we’ll make a great family."