He gave more than just his money.
You know, for me its not even about ALL that money - over 300million - that he donated.. and the generous percentage of his estate that he left in his will. And that he is in the Guinness World Records for 'Popstar Who Supports The Most Charity Organisations' Its not even about the money from We Are The World..Heal The World, Man In The Mirror... or about the Heal The World Foundation. Or even the Nobel Peace Price Nominations..
What impressed me most is his charity work on a PERSONAL LEVEL, how he gave his time, his heart and his home to disabled, ill and disadvantaged kids. How he visited hospitals and orphanages in practically every city he visited and left them in a better state than when he arrived. How he met with very gravely ill people and helped them anyway he could. How he brightened peoples lives and made kids forget they had cancer whilst he was with them. And those trips to toy shops weren't just for him - they were to fill trucks with toys to go and give away to kids. And Neverland - that was for kids. Charities would ask for buses of ill, disabled, poor kids to be able to go to Neverland - to experience the fairground, the animals, the grounds.
Also - a cute story - after reading a letter from a young girl who wanted to go to a Victory tour concert but couldn't afford it, he made organisers change the price of tickets and gave her and her family free tickets. (on a side note - he gave concert tickets free to those in poor communities who wouldn't have been able to go otherwise)
And how can we forget the guy 'Dave Dave' that was at his funeral - whose dad had doused him in kerosene when he was 6/7 yrs old and set him on fire. Michael heard about it, got in contact and helped him, and became a life long friend. And what about Farkus - the young boy MJ and Lisa Marie Presley met at a hospital/orphanage on one of his visits? He needed a liver and MJ got his organisation to look for one all over the world and never gave up, that boy is alive now because of Michael.
He has been honoured by presidents and primeministers. An African village made him their 'king' because of what he had done for them. There is a Michael Jackson Scholarship - which enables young people to go to college/university when they wouldn't have been able to afford to otherwise. He gave money from his tours to charity - all his money from Victory tour and some from the Dangerous tour. He could have sued Pepsi and ruined them after his head was burned.. instead he asked Pepsi to give money he got to a burn centre. He establised The Michael Jackson Burn Centre for Children.
He supported lots of causes to do with - AIDS, Cancer, Abuse, At-Risk/Disadvantaged Youths, Hunger, Family/Parent Support, Children, Hospitals, Burn Victims, Orphanages, Education, Environment
, Animals, Physical Challenges, Mental Challenges..
His charity efforts were also spontaneous.. if he heard about an event he'd call to see how he could help - here's a story of that
http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=485687
I could type a lot more about MJ and charity..but there is too much. TOO much.
Some causes listed here -
http://www.allmichaeljackson.com/charities.html
Some information here -
http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/113-michael-jackson
Theres a big long list here and it still probably doesn't cover it all -
http://www.jacksonaction.com/?page=charity.htm
It was his openness and willingness to help people who asked him for help that led people to take advantage of him and then try to ruin him to get more.
HE WAS A
GOOD PERSON - PEOPLE NEED TO REALISE THAT
.... turns out I did have a few words..