Neil Diamond made a surprise visit to Boston's Fenway Park last week to sing his 1969 hit "Sweet Caroline" during the Red Sox' first home game since the Boston Marathon bombings. That visit spurred sales, and now Diamond is pledging all the proceeds to Boston's One Fund.

The veteran crooner, 72, retweeted a message Wednesday from Nielsen saying "Sweet Caroline" sales were up by 597 percent since the April 15 Boston bombings, selling 19,000 copies. Diamond added: "Donating these royalties to #OneFund!"

(Image Credit: Michael Ivins/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)

Diamond's appearance helped propel the song, written about the daughter of the late President John F. Kennedy, to No. 33 this week on Billboard's Pop Digital Songs chart.

Billboard said nearly 10 percent of the sales came from the Boston area.

"Sweet Caroline" has been a staple at Red Sox games for more than a decade. But now the song appears to be bringing comfort to the city in the wake of the bombings that killed three and injured more than 200 people. Also, the bombing suspects allegedly killed an MIT patrol officer April 18.

One Fund Boston has already raised more than $20 million its first week to aid the victims and their families.