DAVOS, Switzerland, Jan 28 (AFP) - Hollywood siren Sharon Stone, more used to the film studio than the business stage, stole the limelight Friday with an impromptu fundraiser at the World Economic Forum that secured one million dollars in aid to Africa.
Seizing her chance during a heavyweight debate on how to tackle poverty in Africa, Stone stood up in the middle of the crowded hall to offer an immediate personal pledge of 10,000 dollars -- then challenged others to follow suit.
It rather undercut the big-name panelists, who included Britain's finance minister Gordon Brown, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and the billionaire Microsoft chairman Bill Gates.
"Could you please stand up, President Mkapa needs help today," she called, referring to Tanzanian leader Benjamin Mkapa who was also on stage, and whose country is among the poorest in the world.
Stand up, Stone urged, "if you'll be on a team with me, if you'll help President Mkapa today, because he needs help today, because people are dying in his country today and that's not OK with me."
"So if you would help children in his country stop dying today, I would appreciate that and I think he would too." The money would be donated to the Global Fund for AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis, she added.
"So just stay standing until someone comes and takes your name and I'll give the microphone for other questions."
It didn't take long for first one man, then another and another, to stand up. And a short while later, as the debate closed, moderator Bill Frist, the US Senate majority leader, announced that Stone had raised one million dollars.
Klaus Schwab, the founder of the annual forum in Davos, Switzerland, said later that a special account had been opened for donations.
01/28/2005 17:52 GMT - AFP