16 of Michael Jackson’s Non-Musical Achievements
Little has been said about Michael Jackson’s outstanding achievements that are unrelated to his music career. Usually, people talk about the high sales of his albums and his records, but far less is discussed about his non-musical activities in the media. On this page, we take a look at 16 of Michael Jackson’s biggest non-musical achievements:
Michael Jackson’s Burn Victims Center
On January 27, 1984, due to an accident that happened while filming a Pepsi promotional video, Michael suffered a second-degree burn to his scalp. The incident occurred at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The promotional video was simulated like a concert, and the hall was full of fans who had come to watch. The explosion of flammable materials threw sparks onto Michael’s hair and set it on fire. Michael’s use of shiny, moisturizing products on his hair accelerated the fire. Michael was immediately taken to the hospital, and Pepsi paid him $1.5 million in damages, which Michael donated to the Burn Treatment Clinic in Culver City, California—where he had been treated for his burns. Using the donated money, the clinic was able to establish a special medical technology for burn accident victims. This special unit was later named “Michael Jackson’s Burn Victims Center” in honor of Michael and as a tribute to his generosity.
A Plaque from President Reagan
On May 14, 1984, Michael was invited to the White House to be honored for his support of charities fighting drug and alcohol addiction. His plaque was presented to him by Ronald Reagan, the sitting president at the time.
The Victory Tour Charity
In 1984, the Jackson Brothers held their final world tour. During this tour, Michael’s solo songs were performed, introducing more than 2 million fans to Michael’s solo hits. Michael donated his entire $5 million share from this tour to charities.
We Are the World, We Are the Children
In 1985, Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie wrote the charity song “We Are The World.” Both of them were among the 45 artists who gathered in the Los Angeles recording studio on January 28, after the American Music Awards, to sing and record the song. The song was released worldwide to serve as a source of income to help the hungry in Africa. It sold about 20 million copies and is still one of the best-selling singles in history. The song raised millions of dollars for charitable causes.
Michael and Lionel worked at the Jackson family home in Huenearst, Encino. Later, Michael’s sister LaToya revealed that Lionel had only written a short part of the song. Although Michael made 99% of the song, he never felt the need to say it out loud. He then presented his demo to Quincy and Richie, and they were shocked because they hadn’t expected Michael to arrange the song so quickly.
Hosting Disadvantaged Children at Concerts
From 1987 to 1989, Michael performed his first solo tour, Bad, in stadiums packed with crowds. When 504,000 people gathered for seven concerts at London’s Wembley Stadium—whose tickets had completely sold out—Guinness World Records set another record for Michael. The tour earned $125 million. During the run of this tour’s concerts, Michael invited disadvantaged and poor children to his concerts for free in every city. During his stay in each city, he visited children’s hospitals and orphanages and donated money to charities.
100% Charity
Michael dedicated 100% of the net profit from the incredible single “Man In The Mirror” to charitable causes.
Helping the African Union Organization Fund
From 1985 to 1990, Michael donated $500,000 to the African Union organization’s fund.
Honored by President George Bush
George Bush Sr., the sitting president at the time, honored Michael for his humanitarian activities and, during a ceremony, presented him with a special award called “Artist of the Decade” from the White House—signifying the widespread impact of his music in the 1980s.
Heal The World Charity Foundation
In 1992, Michael founded the Heal The World charity. The foundation took disadvantaged children to Michael’s dream city, Neverland, so they could use the recreational facilities that Michael had built there for children. The foundation also allocated millions of dollars to children-related causes around the world who were involved in war or illness. Among other things, it helped by sending millions of dollars in food and medicine aid to the victims of the war in Bosnia.
Dangerous Charity Tour
The Dangerous tour began on June 27, 1992, and ended on November 11, 1993. During this time, 3.5 million people worldwide attended 67 concerts from this tour. All the net profit from these concerts was donated in one lump sum to the Heal The World charity foundation to be used for charitable purposes.
Public Request for AIDS Research
When Ryan White, a sick boy with hemophilia who had contracted AIDS due to contaminated blood injections, was expelled from school in 1985 because of his illness, Michael became one of his supporters. After White’s death in 1990, Michael, during the start of President Bill Clinton’s administration, asked the public and officials to allocate more funding for research into AIDS.
Michael’s Charity Concert with Pavarotti
In June 1999, Michael Jackson and Luciano Pavarotti joined forces in Modena, Italy, to hold a charity concert. The goal of the concert was to help the charitable foundations supporting children affected by war. The concert managed to provide millions of dollars in aid to Kosovar refugees as well as children in Guatemala.
Michael and Friends Charity Concert
In June 1999, Michael held a series of charity concerts in Germany and South Korea. Slash, the band Scorpions, Boys to Men, Luther Vandross, Mariah Carey, A.R. Rahman, Andrea Bocelli, and Luciano Pavarotti were among the performers at these concerts with him. The revenue from these concerts was donated to Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, the World Red Cross, and UNESCO.
Guinness Record for Supporting Charities
In the year 2000, the Guinness World Records book recorded Michael’s name as the person who provided the most support to charities compared to other artists and public figures. He had 39 charities under his financial and guaranteed support.
Moonwalk
Michael published his only autobiography in 1988 titled “Moon Walk” (Moon Walk). Writing the book took four years. In it, he talks about the hardships of his childhood. At the time of its release, it was the best-selling book on the prestigious New York Times list.
Helping Victims of the September 11 Incident
After the tragic September 11 incident in New York, Michael helped organize a charity concert titled “United We Stand: What More Can I Give.” The concert was held at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington, D.C., and was broadcast on television on October 21, 2001. Many artists participated in this charity concert. As a finale, Michael performed his new song “What More Can I Give,” which he had made in support of the victims of the September 11 incident, along with the other artists.
T.J. Martell Charity’s Tribute to Michael
The T.J. Martell charity institute, which funds research into cancer and AIDS diseases, on October 28, 2009, at the Hilton New York Hotel during the anniversary celebration of the institute’s founding, for the first time unveiled its “legend” award by presenting it to Michael Jackson. During the 34 years of Michael Jackson’s life with this institute, he had been its kindest and most generous supporter and had been the source of the largest donations.
Source: eMJey / brainz.org
Michael Jackson’s Burn Victims Center
On January 27, 1984, due to an accident that happened while filming a Pepsi promotional video, Michael suffered a second-degree burn to his scalp. The incident occurred at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The promotional video was simulated like a concert, and the hall was full of fans who had come to watch. The explosion of flammable materials threw sparks onto Michael’s hair and set it on fire. Michael’s use of shiny, moisturizing products on his hair accelerated the fire. Michael was immediately taken to the hospital, and Pepsi paid him $1.5 million in damages, which Michael donated to the Burn Treatment Clinic in Culver City, California—where he had been treated for his burns. Using the donated money, the clinic was able to establish a special medical technology for burn accident victims. This special unit was later named “Michael Jackson’s Burn Victims Center” in honor of Michael and as a tribute to his generosity.
A Plaque from President Reagan
On May 14, 1984, Michael was invited to the White House to be honored for his support of charities fighting drug and alcohol addiction. His plaque was presented to him by Ronald Reagan, the sitting president at the time.
The Victory Tour Charity
In 1984, the Jackson Brothers held their final world tour. During this tour, Michael’s solo songs were performed, introducing more than 2 million fans to Michael’s solo hits. Michael donated his entire $5 million share from this tour to charities.
We Are the World, We Are the Children
In 1985, Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie wrote the charity song “We Are The World.” Both of them were among the 45 artists who gathered in the Los Angeles recording studio on January 28, after the American Music Awards, to sing and record the song. The song was released worldwide to serve as a source of income to help the hungry in Africa. It sold about 20 million copies and is still one of the best-selling singles in history. The song raised millions of dollars for charitable causes.
Michael and Lionel worked at the Jackson family home in Huenearst, Encino. Later, Michael’s sister LaToya revealed that Lionel had only written a short part of the song. Although Michael made 99% of the song, he never felt the need to say it out loud. He then presented his demo to Quincy and Richie, and they were shocked because they hadn’t expected Michael to arrange the song so quickly.
Hosting Disadvantaged Children at Concerts
From 1987 to 1989, Michael performed his first solo tour, Bad, in stadiums packed with crowds. When 504,000 people gathered for seven concerts at London’s Wembley Stadium—whose tickets had completely sold out—Guinness World Records set another record for Michael. The tour earned $125 million. During the run of this tour’s concerts, Michael invited disadvantaged and poor children to his concerts for free in every city. During his stay in each city, he visited children’s hospitals and orphanages and donated money to charities.
100% Charity
Michael dedicated 100% of the net profit from the incredible single “Man In The Mirror” to charitable causes.
Helping the African Union Organization Fund
From 1985 to 1990, Michael donated $500,000 to the African Union organization’s fund.
Honored by President George Bush
George Bush Sr., the sitting president at the time, honored Michael for his humanitarian activities and, during a ceremony, presented him with a special award called “Artist of the Decade” from the White House—signifying the widespread impact of his music in the 1980s.
Heal The World Charity Foundation
In 1992, Michael founded the Heal The World charity. The foundation took disadvantaged children to Michael’s dream city, Neverland, so they could use the recreational facilities that Michael had built there for children. The foundation also allocated millions of dollars to children-related causes around the world who were involved in war or illness. Among other things, it helped by sending millions of dollars in food and medicine aid to the victims of the war in Bosnia.
Dangerous Charity Tour
The Dangerous tour began on June 27, 1992, and ended on November 11, 1993. During this time, 3.5 million people worldwide attended 67 concerts from this tour. All the net profit from these concerts was donated in one lump sum to the Heal The World charity foundation to be used for charitable purposes.
Public Request for AIDS Research
When Ryan White, a sick boy with hemophilia who had contracted AIDS due to contaminated blood injections, was expelled from school in 1985 because of his illness, Michael became one of his supporters. After White’s death in 1990, Michael, during the start of President Bill Clinton’s administration, asked the public and officials to allocate more funding for research into AIDS.
Michael’s Charity Concert with Pavarotti
In June 1999, Michael Jackson and Luciano Pavarotti joined forces in Modena, Italy, to hold a charity concert. The goal of the concert was to help the charitable foundations supporting children affected by war. The concert managed to provide millions of dollars in aid to Kosovar refugees as well as children in Guatemala.
Michael and Friends Charity Concert
In June 1999, Michael held a series of charity concerts in Germany and South Korea. Slash, the band Scorpions, Boys to Men, Luther Vandross, Mariah Carey, A.R. Rahman, Andrea Bocelli, and Luciano Pavarotti were among the performers at these concerts with him. The revenue from these concerts was donated to Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund, the World Red Cross, and UNESCO.
Guinness Record for Supporting Charities
In the year 2000, the Guinness World Records book recorded Michael’s name as the person who provided the most support to charities compared to other artists and public figures. He had 39 charities under his financial and guaranteed support.
Moonwalk
Michael published his only autobiography in 1988 titled “Moon Walk” (Moon Walk). Writing the book took four years. In it, he talks about the hardships of his childhood. At the time of its release, it was the best-selling book on the prestigious New York Times list.
Helping Victims of the September 11 Incident
After the tragic September 11 incident in New York, Michael helped organize a charity concert titled “United We Stand: What More Can I Give.” The concert was held at Robert F. Kennedy Stadium in Washington, D.C., and was broadcast on television on October 21, 2001. Many artists participated in this charity concert. As a finale, Michael performed his new song “What More Can I Give,” which he had made in support of the victims of the September 11 incident, along with the other artists.
T.J. Martell Charity’s Tribute to Michael
The T.J. Martell charity institute, which funds research into cancer and AIDS diseases, on October 28, 2009, at the Hilton New York Hotel during the anniversary celebration of the institute’s founding, for the first time unveiled its “legend” award by presenting it to Michael Jackson. During the 34 years of Michael Jackson’s life with this institute, he had been its kindest and most generous supporter and had been the source of the largest donations.
Source: eMJey / brainz.org