Most of us know that Michael Jackson is the King of Pop, the youngest of his brothers in the Jackson 5, and the most-awarded artist of all time. But before the bright lights and worldwide fame, Michael’s early life was marked by relentless dedication and a desire to use his talent for good. Growing up in a working-class family in Gary, Indiana, he learned the importance of hard work and empathy from a young age, qualities that shaped both his music and his humanitarian spirit.
In addition to his remarkable collection of honors—including 23 Guinness World Records, 40 Billboard Awards, 13 Grammys, and 26 American Music Awards—Jackson made significant contributions beyond his musical career.
But many don’t know that Michael Jackson earned other awards as well: awards in giving (yes, giving). Michael really wanted to make his mark on this world and make it a better place, so he did just like his song “Man In The Mirror” said, he started with himself.
As Michael once said, “To give someone a piece of your heart, is worth more than all the wealth in the world.” His philosophy of giving was not just about writing checks, but about connecting personally with those in need.
In fact, in the Millennium Issue of the “Guinness Book of Records,” Jackson was recognized as the Pop Star who supports the most charity organizations.
In 1986, Jackson gave $1.5 million to establish the “Michael Jackson United Negro College Fund Endowed Scholarship Fund,” aimed at students majoring in performance art and communications, with funds given each year to students attending a United Negro College Fund member college or university. The scholarship has helped hundreds of students attend college.
Jackson also contributed to the Cities and Schools Scholarship Fund and to many other charities focused on education and children with special needs.
Unbeknownst to many of us, Michael supported the 1995 Million Man March to the tune of nearly three hundred thousand dollars. He also gave to needy children in Romania and Bangkok, and assisted the “Motown Museum Historic Foundation.” Children in Bombay received millions of dollars and children in Poland received almost a million dollars worth of toys.
In all, Celebrity Net Worth estimates that in addition to large amounts of time and effort to support charities and causes, Michael Jackson gave in excess of $200 million over the course of his life to try to make the world a better place.
The old saying goes, “put your money where your mouth is.” Michael Jackson did that and more.
The following is a list of some of the charities he publicly helped:
- AIDS Project L.A.
- American Cancer Society
- Angel Food
- Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles
- BMI Foundation, Inc.— Support music education for gifted youngsters.
- Brotherhood Crusade
- Brothman Burn Center
- Camp Ronald McDonald
- Childhelp U.S.A. – Aims at meeting the needs of abused and neglected children, including education.
- 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
- Rotary Club of Australia
- Society of Singers
- Starlight Foundation
- The Carter Center’s Atlanta Project
- The Sickle Cell Research Foundation
