Benefit Concerts For Victims of Katrina Planned

Celebrities across the United States are planning benefit concerts to raise money for the relief effort in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

On Friday, NBC Universal has a concert scheduled called 'A Concert for Hurricane Relief.' The event will air live on NBC, MSNBC and CNBC and will last approximately an hour according to a press release issued Wednesday.

Three prominent Louisiana natives will participate in the concert: country singer Tim McGraw, jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and crooner Harry Connick Jr. NBC personality Matt Lauer will be the host of the concert.

During the show, viewers will be encouraged to make donations to help aid survivors of Katrina through the American Red Cross.

NBC has invited additional networks to take part in their event.

'The more money, the more efforts, the more benefits for the victims,' NBC spokeswoman Rebecca Marks said. 'This is no way an exclusionary event. It's about charity and helping people.'

MTV, VH1 and CMT have also announced a benefit concert scheduled for Saturday, September 10. Among the acts scheduled to appear are the Dave Matthews Band, Alicia Keys, John Mellencamp, Ludacris, Green Day, David Banner, Rob Thomas, Gretchen Wilson and Linkin Park's Chester Bennington.

All three networks will broadcast the concert live from the show's many locations. Venues are expected to include New York City, Los Angeles, Nashville and Atlanta according to a press release sent by organizers.

Viewers will be encouraged to make donations to the American Red Cross and volunteer their time to help in the recovery and rescue effort.

BET has also announced it will hold a telethon to raise money for hurricane relief. It will air September 9 at 7:30 PM EDT. Among the celebrities scheduled to appear are hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, rapper Master P and jazz artist Marsalis.

Actor Morgan Freeman has also announced a celebrity auction to raise funds for Katrina's victims. Among the items up for auction is a private screening of Freeman's upcoming film 'An Unfinished Life'. The auction will begin Friday at the Web site Charityfolks.com.

'It's sort of well-known that anytime any catastrophe happens anywhere in the world, they can count on the United States for help,' Freeman told the Associated Press. 'Now, charity begins at home, so we call on anybody who has even the thought [of giving] to get beyond the thought and help these people,' the 68-year-old Academy Award winning actor said.