The urgent need for aid in Haiti is ongoing and so are the funds required to pay for it. So it's good to know that celebrities are getting involved.  Entertainment icons such as George Clooney and musician Wyclef Jean are teaming up for a telethon on MTV to be broadcast live on Friday 22nd January.

The music awards season is in full swing with the Golden Globe Awards taking place on Sunday night in Hollywood, the NRJ music awards here in Cannes and the Grammys at the end of the month. Despite this, the industry is taking time to put its weight behind fundraising efforts.

Sandra Bullock has followed the example of Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and George Clooney, by donating a massive $1 million to help the victims of Tuesday's Haiti earthquake.

The Miss Congeniality star handed over the cash to the Doctors Without Borders' emergency operation in Port-Au-Prince, after seeing news coverage of the devastation that the 7.0-magnitude quake caused. In a statement, she says, "I wanted to ensure that my donation would be used immediately to meet the needs of the Haitian people affected by this catastrophic event."

Earlier this week, Pitt & Jolie personally donated the same sum, while Clooney's Not On Our Watch charity has donated another $1 million. Supermodel Gisele Bundchen put her hands even deeper, giving $1.5 million to the relief effort.

Ex-Fugees star, Haitian Wyclef Jean is also raising cash through his Yele foundation and will co-host a telethon to raise funds for the people of his native country (with George Clooney) on 22 January.

Wyclef Jean is devastated after his friend, Jimmy O, was found dead following the earthquake. The rapper's body was discovered near capital Port-au-Prince on Friday (15th), according to AllHipHop.com. The star's agent Robert Dominique says, "His loss will be tremendous in Haiti."

JOHN TRAVOLTA is using his aviation contacts to help by planning a mercy mission to the earthquake ravaged nation. The movie star and celebrity member of the Church of Scientology says, "I have arranged for a plane to take down some volunteer ministers and some supplies and some medics".

Even David Blaine did his bit by performing card tricks in Times Square for tourists and passers-by to raise money for the Red Cross Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund.

And British actress Emily Blunt has vowed to add her support to the two-hour Hope For Haiti telethon which is set to air on January 22nd: "I'm going to be doing the thing that George is organising; the telethon. But I think, really, it's just about everyone needs to jump in. Everyone needs to get involved in whatever way they can. So, I think I'm just going to research the best way to help."

The response to the Asian Tsunami in 2004 is a reminder of how the international community came together to save lives and rebuild communities. Whatever industry you are from, it doesn't matter, please take the time to donate to charities helping in this relief effort for Haiti.

Iain  Alexander is originally from Valbonne but now based in Paris. A film director and producer, Iain can be reached via his website Film Industry Network

Helping Haiti On January 12, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti. The death toll is estimated to be as high as 100,000, with 3 million made homeless and many more injured. READ MORE