Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
Where is your official website?
Right here!
Why just a blog?
Because I don’t know how to make a website! Besides, it’s a waste of money to pay for a custom domain name and webhosting for a site that is used for only one month a year. The money would be better donated to charity. We had a custom address in the first year but I decided not to renew it and gave the money to charity instead.
Are you collecting money for your own charity?
No. There are some MJ fan groups that have established their own charities (see links on the right), but this is not one of them. We choose a different charity each year to donate to.
Why are you doing this?
I started this project as a way for fans to keep Michael’s memory alive. Instead of spending money on flowers that would die in three days, if we gave all that money to help poor people instead, we can make a positive and more lasting change in the world and it would all be because of Michael. He did a lot of charity in the time he was here. He made a difference, and we can carry it on for him even though he is no longer here, by donating in his name. In that way, we will carry on his legacy and keep his memory alive.
How are charities selected?
Fans send in suggestions of charities and then take a vote on them. Charities have to fulfill these conditions:
• It must be a cause that Michael was passionate about: Orphanages, the environment, medical assistance - hospital/research/sick children, education, or humanitarian causes.
• The charity should preferably benefit people around the world, or if just one country, then a very poor one.
• The charity must be a registered non-profit in the country that it is based.
• The charity must use donations efficiently.
• The charity is not too large, so that our contributions will make a difference.
• They are able to accept online donations from all over the world.
Why are there no charities that help people in the USA?
There are. The charity that we donated to in 2010 (Cure Childhood Cancer) pretty much benefits Americans. However, we would prefer not to ask fans from poorer countries to donate to countries that are richer than theirs.
You have only chosen charities that are based in the USA. Can I suggest a charity from outside the USA?
Absolutely! We received suggestions of charities from the UK, but they didn't fulfill our requirements, and as such, were not chosen. We also had a suggestion of a charity from Italy, but their website was not ready yet.
All charities regardless of country must be able to provide their financial statements (showing how their money is spent) and annual tax returns. It would be even better if we can verify their information on their country's tax department website.
How can I avoid fraud?
Always donate money directly to the charity. You can donate at their website or mail a cheque, money order or a bank draft.
Never give someone money to send on your behalf.
Always check that the charity is registered as a non-profit with the government of the country in which it is based. If your money is valuable to you, then surely you can take the time to do this.
I am under 18 and do not have a credit card. How can I donate?
You can ask an adult to send your donation for you, or you can buy a bank draft from the bank or a money order from the post office and mail it in yourself. If you have a bank account, you can also use Paypal. (If the charity accepts these options.)
I am broke but I would really like to contribute.
Some charities do not specify a minimum, so you can donate as little as $1 or $5. If you have no money at all, why not raise some money among your friends and family? Ask each person for $1 or $5 to support your cause, and soon you'll have more to give!
Here is another idea - open a bank account and put in a little money into the account each month. This is your “charity account”, not to be mixed with money for your own use. Make it a point to put in $5 or $10 each month, or as much as you can afford. After a while, you will have collected some money, and then you can give it to whichever charity you wish!
Or, when you catch yourself buying something you don’really need, take 10% of that amount and put it into your charity account. If you are like most people, soon you will have a lot. :)
