FARE YE WELL MJ!

Jackson not just remembered as a music icon
- Godsway Shumba, Zimbabwe
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An article from the HDN Key Correspondent Team: 3 July 2009

In most parts of the world Michael Jackson is remembered as an entertainer who influenced the music industry across several generations but not much is being said about his contributions to charities, especially those helping orphans and vulnerable children (OVC).

Even though Jackson generated significant controversy with his personal life and accusations of child sexual abuse, his contributions to beneficial causes were just as profound as his musical legacy.

Jackson donated millions of dollars to less fortunate children through the Heal the World Foundation , a charitable organization that he founded in 1992.

The foundation's creation which was inspired by his charitable single of the same name , carried out a number of projects to provide medicine to children and fight world hunger, homelessness, child exploitation and abuse.

Between June 1992 and December 1993, the King of pop , embarked on a concert tour across parts of the United States, Europe, South America and Asia to fundraise for the Heal the World Foundation.

All profits made from the tour which included 69 concerts to 3.9 million fans, were donated to the foundation and various other charities.

Jackson made great contributions to humanitarian causes, equality and world peace even before the creation of the Heal the World Foundation.

He didn't only convey the message through his songs such as "Can You Feel It ", "We Are the World " and "Man in the Mirror " but also through millions of dollars that he donated to charity.

During the Bad World Tour that began in September 1987 and finished in January 989, the dominant figure in American popular music and culture invited underprivileged children to watch for free and gave donations to hospitals, orphanages and other charities.

Jackson was one of the people who drew public attention to HIV and AIDS following the illness and death of Ryan White .

White, a teenager who was diagnosed with HIV in 1984 through a contaminated blood treatment became a national poster child for HIV and AIDS in the United States after being expelled from school because of his infection.

White and other prominent HIV-infected people helped changing the perception of AIDS as only a gay related disease.

At the time of White's death, Jackson publicly pleaded with the Clinton Administration at Bill Clinton's Inaugural Gala to give more money to HIV and AIDS charities and research.

The King of pop continued to contribute to charity throughout his life. In June 1999, he raised a million dollars for the refugees of Kosovo through the non-profit organization, Warchild .

Later that month, Jackson organized a set of "Michael Jackson & Friends" benefit concerts in Germany and Korea to raise money for the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund , the Red Cross and UNESCO .

As generations of fans remember Jackson's music and stage performances characterized by physically complicated dance techniques such as the robot and the moonwalk , I will mostly remember his contributions to make a better future for children throughout the world.

The KC Team is coordinated by Health & Development Networks (HDN).
Website: www.healthdev.net/kcteam Email: kcc@hdnet.org

Source: AF-AIDS - July 03, 2009 6:59 AM