Michael Jackson receives humanitarian award from Bollywood

Michael Jackson received a Humanitarian award in 1999 a the Bollywood Movie Awards. The Bollywood Movie Awards, is an annual film award ceremony held in Long Island, New York, United States, celebrating films and actors from the Bollywood film industry based in Mumbai, India.

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Michael Jackson and kids on the ‘We are the World’ remake

The late Michael Jackson will appear in the 25th anniversary remake of “We Are The World”. Lionel Richie and Quincy Jones, who, along with Michael, masterminded the original version in 1985, have confirmed that the King of Pop’s original vocals and footage would be used in the song and video. Michael will appear posthumously in a split-screen with sister Janet Jackson joining him. Read more

Michael Jackson Remembered During Re-recording of We are the World

To coincide with the 25th anniversary and the tragedy in Haiti, stars gathered for the re-recording of “We Are the World.” Several members of the ensemble cast spoke about the historical impact of the song and advocated the importance of contributing to the recovery in Haiti. Read more

MJ Reminded Us to Support AIDS Research

Michael Jackson spent much of his life trying to make people feel empowered to make a difference. No fight was too big or small.

Touring orphanages, African villages and singing the praises of world peace, he inspired people to want to make a difference. Read more

Michael Jackson Visits Army Camp in Japan

Michael Jackson was known to dedicate a lot of time visit sick, poor, army and other charitable event. In the video below we see Michael visiting an army camp at Camp Zama, Japan in March, 2007. He arrived by Blackhawk helicopter and spent some time visiting soldiers, families and the local Japanese employees on base. Read more

Michael Jackson Humanitarian

Micheal Jackson has been long known as a humanitarian. His generosity put him in the Guinness Book for being the celebrity supporting the most charities. It is reported that during his lifetime he donated between $300 to $500 million dollars. He also spent a lot of time visiting the sick, poor and needy and performing benefit concerts, speaking, etc. His Heal the World Foundation was know around the world. Read more

Heal the World Foundation

As famous as Michael Jackson was for his music, he was equally famous for his humanitarian efforts. One of his greatest contribution during the height of his popularity was his efforts to setup a foundation to assist those less fortunate. Heal the World Foundation was MJ’s way of giving back.

Background

Prior to the creation of the Heal the World Foundation, Jackson had expressed great interest in humanitarianism, equality and world peace. Songs such as “Can You Feel It”, “We Are the World” and “Man in the Mirror” convey this. Jackson also donated millions of dollars to charity, including his $5 million share from the Victory Tour.

In 1984, while filming a Pepsi Cola commercial, Jackson suffered second degree burns to his scalp after pyrotechnics accidentally set his hair on fire. PepsiCo settled a lawsuit out of court, and Jackson gave his $1.5 million settlement to the “Michael Jackson Burn Center” which was a piece of new technology to help people with severe burns.

Shortly afterward, Jackson was invited to the White House to receive an award presented by American President Ronald Reagan. The award was given for Jackson’s support of charities that helped people overcome alcohol and drug abuse.

In 1985, Jackson co-wrote the charity single “We Are the World” with Lionel Richie, which was released worldwide to aid the poor in Africa and the US. He was one of 39 music celebrities who performed on the record. The single became one of the best-selling singles of all time, with nearly 20 million copies sold and millions of dollars donated to famine relief. It was also the first time Jackson was recognized for his humanitarian efforts.

Mission

The Heal The World Foundation’s logo was based on this single cover of its namesake song.

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.

Fundraising

The Dangerous World Tour began on June 27, 1992, and finished on November 11, 1993. Jackson performed to 3.5 million people in 67 concerts. All profits from the concerts went to the “Heal the World Foundation”, raising millions of dollars in relief.   Through the foundation, Jackson airlifted 46 tons of supplies to Sarajevo and paid for a Hungarian child’s liver transplant.

One of Michael Jackson’s most acclaimed performances came during the halftime show at the National Football League’s Super Bowl XXVII. At the show, Jackson performed his anthem “Heal the World”, to help promote the organization with the assistance of a choir of 750 people and a flash card display involving 98,000 volunteers. Jackson donated his entire fees to the foundation, with the NFL also donating $100,000 and a 30-second TV spot to push for contributions.

Following the Super Bowl, Jackson ran a full-page advertisement in the newspaper USA Today, providing a toll-free number. A coupon was provided that could be clipped and mailed in along with a contribution. Those donating $35 or more were given a “Heal the World” T-shirt.

The environmental themed music video for “Earth Song” closed with a request for donations to Jackson’s foundation.

In 1997, Jackson earned money from photographs of his son, Prince Michael. The photographs were sold to “OK!” magazine and the National Enquirer, raising $3 million for the foundation.

Heal the Kids

In February 2001, Jackson launched Heal the Kids, an initiative of HTWF and part of the foundation’s attempt to boost children’s welfare.  Jackson launched the charity initiative, stating, “Heal the Kids will help adults and parents realize it’s in our power to change the world our children live in”.

Jackson gave a speech at Oxford University about raising children, as part of the launch of his “Heal the Kids” initiative. In the speech, Jackson spoke rhetorically of his children, “What if they grow older and resent me, and how my choices impacted their youth?…Why weren’t we given a normal childhood like all the other children? And at that moment I pray that my children will give me the benefit of the doubt. That they will say to themselves: Our daddy did the best he could, given the unique circumstances he faced. I hope that they will focus on the positives things, on the sacrifices I willingly made for them…”. Journalist J. Randy Taraborrelli concluded that Jackson’s performance during the speech was “absorbing” and well received.

Disbandment

In 2002, the Heal the World Foundation was suspended, after failing to file yearly accounting statements, required for tax-exempt organizations. Records showed that the foundation had net assets of $3,542 and reported $2,585 in expenses. The foundation did not have a director, president or other top manager besides Jackson, who was listed as chairman.

Name Confusion

A separate charity named ‘Heal the World Foundation was set up in 2008. On August 11, 2009, CBS News reported that: “… representatives of the Jackson estate say the foundation is not linked, “The Michael Jackson estate has no connection whatsoever to the “Heal the World Foundation” run by Melissa Johnson,” said Terry Fahn, a spokesperson for John Branca, the special administrator of the Jackson estate.”

On 30 September, the Jackson Foundation started law action against the charity claiming that the “Defendants’ acts of infringement and unfair competition have been committed with the intent to cause confusion, mistake and to deceive”.

Michael Jackson Humanitarian

Regardless of what your feelings were about Michael Jackson through the good periods and the bad, no one can doubt his desire to be a humanitarian.

It is estimated that he gave away approximately 50% of his earnings during his lifetime…amounting to between $300 million to $500 million dollars.  A staggering amount of money.

Not only did he part with this money but the timing is interesting.  Often he toured and gave away all the profit from the tours.

Many of the charities he contributed to involved children and animals.  The black community also received funds.  Much of his generosity went unnoticed.  He was known to pay for medical care in secret.

There were many people especially children who were direct beneficiaries of his kindness.  His concern for mankind and the planet were often noted in his videos and songs.

His charity Heal the World (until 2002) helped many of those less fortunate.

Note: The current Heal the World organization has no direct connection to Jackson and is currently being sued by his estate for misrepresentation.  The case is still being heard in the courts.  We await the outcome.