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Concert for a cause: Jay Z, No Doubt headline the Global Citizen Festival

It was a free concert for a good cause: ending extreme poverty by 2030.Jay Z with special guest Beyonce closed the Global Citizen Festival concert, wowing the crowd with "Holy Grail." They joined No Doubt, Sting, Alicia Keys, Carrie Underwood, Fun, Hugh Jackman, TODAY's Tamron Hall, world leaders and more than 60,000 attendees, most of whom earned their admission by taking actions that promote aw

It was a free concert for a good cause: ending extreme poverty by 2030.

Jay Z with special guest Beyonce closed the Global Citizen Festival concert, wowing the crowd with "Holy Grail." 

They joined No Doubt, Sting, Alicia Keys, Carrie Underwood, Fun, Hugh Jackman, TODAY's Tamron Hall, world leaders and more than 60,000 attendees, most of whom earned their admission by taking actions that promote awareness about the need for more vaccination, education and sanitation in the most impoverished areas.

Find more highlights from the event on msnbc.com

Adrien Grenier chatted about why the event is so important Friday on TODAY. 

Organizers say concertgoers' actions in the previous two years have secured $1.3 billion in new funding and 35 commitments from world leaders to benefit the poor. 

"Change only takes place when and where there is action," Jay Z said. "I’m joining the 2014 Global Citizen Festival because I believe through actions — whether it be by raising awareness, getting involved or educating ourselves — the goal to end extreme poverty by 2030 is possible."

This updated post was originally published July 9, 2014.