Michael Jackson is best known for his music, his dance but he possibly touched just as many people through his love and compassion for those less fortunate. Here are just some of the things he did which never really made the headlines…
Michael Jackson was a true humanitarian. He was listed in the 2000 edition of the Guiness Book of World Records for breaking the world record for the “Most Charities Supported by a Pop Star.” He had supported 39 charitable organizations either with monetary donations, through sponsorships of their projects or the participation in their activities.:
– AIDS Project L.A.
– American Cancer Society
– Angel Food
– Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles
– BMI Foundation
– Inc., Brotherhood Crusade
– Brotman Burn Center
– Camp Ronald McDonald
– Childhelp U.S.A.
– Children’s Institute International
– Cities and Schools Scholarship Fund
– Community Youth Sports & Arts Foundation
– Congressional Black Caucus (CBC)
– Dakar Foundation
– Dreamstreet Kids
– Dreams Come True Charity
– Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation
– Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
– Love Match
– Make-A-Wish Foundation
– Minority Aids Project
– Motown Museum
– NAACP
– National Rainbow Coalition
– Nelson Mandela’s Children’s Fund
– Red Cross
– Rotary Club of Australia
– Society of Singers Foundation
– The Carter Center’s Atlanta Project
– The Sickle Cell Research Foundation
– Transafrica
– Unesco
– United Negro College Fund (UNCF)
– United Negro College Fund Ladder’s of Hope
– Volunteers of America
– Watts Summer Festival
– Wish Granting
– YMCA – 28th Street/Crenshaw.
But it was found that Michael Jackson supported even much more organisations! Here are the others:
– Democratic National Committee
– Community School/Safety Havens Initiative
– Lupus L.A.
– United Nations High Commission for Refugees
– Atlanta Children’s Foundation
– Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Social Change
– Foundation for the Junior Blind
– Oneness
– Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation
– The International Child Art Foundation
– Go For Your Dreams
– Opportunity Village– Off-Road-Kids e.V
– UNICEF
– T.J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS Research
– International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
– National Solidarity Fund, Family Caring for Families
– Operation Christmas Child
– Children’s Defense Fund
– Children’s Diabetes Foundation
– Boys and Girl Clubs
– Ghandi Foundation for Children
– Crown Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s
– Heal L.A.
– Prince’s Trust
– Youth Sports & Art Foundation
– Jane Goodall’s Ape Research institute
– Children’s Wish Foundation
– Give For Life
– Wishing Well Fund
– MusiCares and Camp Good Times
For more details information about Michael Jackson Humanitarian work, CLICK HERE
MICHAEL JACKSON’S CHARITY – Heal The World Foundation (HTWF)
The original Heal the World Foundation was a charitable organization founded by entertainer Michael Jackson in 1992. The foundation’s creation was inspired by his charitable single of the same name. Through his foundation, Jackson airlifted 46 tons of supplies to Sarajevo, instituted drug and alcohol abuse education and donated millions of dollars to disadvantaged children, including the full payment of a Hungarian child’s liver transplant. Failure to file yearly accounting statements saw the charity lose its tax exempt status in 2002. A different organization, with no relationship to Michael Jackson’s foundation, incorporated in the state of California under the same name and applied for new tax exempt status in 2008. The Jackson estate took legal action against this organisation for unfair competition and trademark infringement in 2009.
Jackson founded the charity in 1992, naming it after his hit song, “Heal the World”. The purpose of the charity was to provide medicine to children and fight world hunger, homelessness, child exploitation and abuse. Jackson stated that he wanted “to improve the conditions for children throughout the world”.
The foundation also brought underprivileged children to Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, located outside Santa Ynez, California, to go on theme park rides that Jackson had built on the property after he purchased it in 1988.
This gives a brief insight into Michael’s charitable activities up to June 2003. Of course, there are many more charitable acts that Michael undertook after this time, and far too many to list. Michael often gave of his time and money privately, and thus many of his gestures have never been documented, since he did not give in order to glean publicity or attention. He gave at least $300million to charity during his lifetime, but this is only what is documented and the likely figure is much more, as is the likely impact on the lives of the recipients of his love, compassion and kindness whilst here.