INTRODUCTION
Elton John is one of the most successful solo artists in history and an influential celebrity humanitarian. Having over 56 Top 40 singles and 27 multi-platinum albums on the American and British charts over his 40-year career, he has also created the Elton John AIDS Foundation, a well-respected and highly-rated organization that works to prevent the spread of AIDS and for the caring of AIDS patients (Anon. 2013). Since its creation in 1992, with Elton John leading the fundraising effort through personal donations, celebrity dinners, and merchandise sale, the Foundation has raised and distributed over $350 million to NGOs and government programs in over 55 countries that works with population vulnerable to or infected with AIDS …show more content…
In 1992, he founded the Elton John AIDS Foundation to further his philanthropic work in combating AIDS (Anon. 2013). During this time his reputation began to improve and he began to earn various accolades, including being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998 for his “services to music and charitable services” (Ibid.). Despite his notoriety for excess and addiction in his earlier years, today he is generally well-respected “[both as] an artist and a humanitarian” (Anon. 2004: …show more content…
This include meetings with high-level government officials of countries in the South, conferences with flagship NGOs such as the US National AIDS Fund, and high-profile celebrity fundraising events such as the annual Academy Awards Viewing Party and the Woodside End of Summer Party. Another fundraising method is the “Lunch Around The World” initiative, where fans around the world organize fundraising events on the day of his birthday in celebration (Anon. 2013). In a 2006 interview, Elton John says that his biggest advantage in fundraising is that, as a celebrity, he is able to “twist some arms and to pull in some favors” and that the fact that he is knighted by the Queen “goes down very well in a lot of countries”, opening new doors for communication, lobby, and funding (Williams 2006). His longstanding focus on fundraising and political activism rather than being seen as involved on the ground distinguishes him from many other celebrities, and is a contributing factor to his lack of controversy. This point, among others, will be elaborate on in the rest of the
Elton John is one of the most successful solo artists in history and an influential celebrity humanitarian. Having over 56 Top 40 singles and 27 multi-platinum albums on the American and British charts over his 40-year career, he has also created the Elton John AIDS Foundation, a well-respected and highly-rated organization that works to prevent the spread of AIDS and for the caring of AIDS patients (Anon. 2013). Since its creation in 1992, with Elton John leading the fundraising effort through personal donations, celebrity dinners, and merchandise sale, the Foundation has raised and distributed over $350 million to NGOs and government programs in over 55 countries that works with population vulnerable to or infected with AIDS …show more content…
In 1992, he founded the Elton John AIDS Foundation to further his philanthropic work in combating AIDS (Anon. 2013). During this time his reputation began to improve and he began to earn various accolades, including being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998 for his “services to music and charitable services” (Ibid.). Despite his notoriety for excess and addiction in his earlier years, today he is generally well-respected “[both as] an artist and a humanitarian” (Anon. 2004: …show more content…
This include meetings with high-level government officials of countries in the South, conferences with flagship NGOs such as the US National AIDS Fund, and high-profile celebrity fundraising events such as the annual Academy Awards Viewing Party and the Woodside End of Summer Party. Another fundraising method is the “Lunch Around The World” initiative, where fans around the world organize fundraising events on the day of his birthday in celebration (Anon. 2013). In a 2006 interview, Elton John says that his biggest advantage in fundraising is that, as a celebrity, he is able to “twist some arms and to pull in some favors” and that the fact that he is knighted by the Queen “goes down very well in a lot of countries”, opening new doors for communication, lobby, and funding (Williams 2006). His longstanding focus on fundraising and political activism rather than being seen as involved on the ground distinguishes him from many other celebrities, and is a contributing factor to his lack of controversy. This point, among others, will be elaborate on in the rest of the