Samuel L. Jackson, Ashley Judd Others Assist in "Listen Campaign" to Help Disadvantaged Children

Listen Campaign is launching an initiative to create a collection of artists that will raise funds and awareness for 200 children's charity programs worldwide, the Listen Campaign announced in a press release.

The funds raised is expected to aid an estimated 400,000 children each year with targets of raising about $100 million during the first year of the initiative and about $1 billion over a 10-year period, Listen Campaign officials said in a press release. 

A donor community that will bring in millions of people to help children will be implemented. Music directors also will sign up to broadcast a global music even in June in Los Angeles. In addition, authors will donate short stories to the project while CBS television will broadcast two specials in June on the topics.

"Listen is an annual, global media campaign bringing together the finest creative artists in film, music and the arts to raise awareness and funds for 200 children's charity projects around the world," said Listen Campaign's executive producer, Tony Hollingsworth.,

Artist added as supporters to the project include film actors Samuel L. Jackson, Ben Kingsley, Ashley Judd, Brooke Shields, Natalie Portman, Goldie Hawn, Kurt Russell and Jessica Lange.

In the literary field, Professor Wolfe Soyinka of Nigeria, Patrica Melo of Brazil, Ishmael Beah of Sierra Leone, Marina Lewycka of the Ukraine, Tim Lott of the United Kingdom and Xiaolu Guo of China will participate.

Music directors Don Was and Dave Stewart also have pledged their support.

Portman, Hawn and Jackson have already visited charity projects for children in Peru, Egypt, India, Uganda and the United States. Their visits were recorded and will be "aired" on the Listen Campaign website. Television also will air the stories in the CBS specials in June. Susan Zirinsky will oversee the project as executive producer.

In Los Angeles music artists will collaborate to perform covers of today's popular songs with Stewart and Was directing the project.