Blake Shelton was quick to organise a benefit concert after the Oklahoma hurricane left many homeless and missing loved ones. And people were quick to buy tickets; the concert sold out in 5 minutes, but is the money going to the right place?

No one’s suggesting for a minute that there’s any untoward activity going on, but it has been suggested that kneejerk donations can often be channelled in the wrong direction “There’s an awful lot of emotional giving that happens after a disaster. Sometimes that can be a recipe for wasteful spending,” explained Heather Joslyn, an editor at the Chronicle of Philanthropy. “There is a multiplier effect,” she adds. “A celebrity can write a check for $1 million, but if they give a televised concert, it will definitely bring in more money.” Blake’s, Reba McEntire, Usher and Vince Gill all stepped in to help out, as well as his wife, Miranda Lambert.

Bruce Springsteen, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and Eric Clapton all helped raised $50 million for Hurricane Sandy victims last year, and David Saltzman, the executive director of the Robin Hood Foundation, says he still finds it heart-warming when a celeb announces a benefit like this. “In my mind, it’s a way of building a sense of community,” he said. “Think of these as incredibly big, incredibly effective bake sales for a neighbor in need."

Blake SheltonHere's Blake Shelton pondering something - probably charity

Usher
Usher helped Shelton out with the benefit