Vax Live concert raises $302 million, exceeds vaccine goal

<p>LOS ANGELES &mdash; The Global Citizen fundraising concert advocating the importance of vaccine equity has pulled in $302 million, exceeding the goal for the organization’s campaign.</p>
<p>Global Citizen announced Saturday that the funds raised in helped procure more than 26 million doses at the “Vax Live: The Concert to Reunite the World.” The organization said money was garnered through several philanthropic and corporate commitments.</p>
<p>President Joe Biden, Prince Harry and Jennifer Lopez <a href="https://apnews.com/article/music-health-coronavirus-pandemic-entertainment-arts-and-entertainment-d9f064dd0bcd11dd546fa87e6e8955c3">were among the big names who took part in the event</a>, which was recorded May 2 and aired Saturday. ABC, ABC News Live, CBS, YouTube and iHeartMedia radio stations will broadcast the concert staged at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. </p>
<p>Selena Gomez hosted the show, which was attended by several thousand fully-vaccinated concertgoers who cheered on performances by Eddie Vedder, Foo Fighters, J Balvin, H.E.R. and Lopez, <a href="https://apnews.com/article/jennifer-lopez-entertainment-music-coronavirus-health-e53f78dce7176f28943232db016614c1">who enjoyed a duet with her mom</a>.</p>
<p>Ben Affleck, Chrissy Teigen, Jimmy Kimmel, Sean Penn and David Letterman served as special guest speakers.</p>
<p>Vax Live was one of the largest concert gatherings in Southern California since the coronavirus pandemic roiled the world more than a year ago.</p>
<p>Organizers called the event the country’s first large-scale music event for a COVID 19-compliant audience. Media and production staff needed to show a negative COVID-19 test before entering the stadium.</p>