American Morning
Big Stars, Big Giving: Elton John on AIDS awareness
Editor's Note: In an American Morning original series, “Big Stars, Big Giving,” Alina Cho looks at celebrity philanthropy and how these big stars can make a big impact. Through one-on-one interviews with Elton John, Ben Stiller, Madonna, Martha Stewart and Richard Branson, she shares what causes have become their passion, and how you can get involved. Originally posted December 21, 2009.
By Alina Cho, CNN
When you talk about celebrity philanthropy, there’s no denying Elton John is an original.
In 17 years, the Elton John AIDS Foundation has raised millions of dollars. So what keeps him going? He says, just like writing music, philanthropy is part of his life.
The 62-year-old music legend says he wasn't moved until he met 14-year old Ryan White in 1986. The Indiana teen was expelled from his school because he had AIDS.
John became so close to the White family he gave them financial assistance and was at Ryan's bedside when he died.
“I never heard Ryan complain about having AIDS. I never heard him whine or be miserable. He carried everything with such dignity. It just taught me about humility, how my life was completely out of whack. About six months after Ryan died, I began to change my life.
"I'd lived a charmed life, you know, taking drugs, drinking, having unsafe sex at a time when I should have been so much more well-behaved. After Ryan died, I thought I can give something back. I've come out of this HIV negative, I've got to do something positive.”
That something positive was the Elton John AIDS Foundation. In 17 years it has started programs in 55 countries and has raised more than $150 million.
“People are so grateful for even the smallest thing. It doesn't take a lot of money to run a project in Africa. $15,000, $20,000. This is something that's never going to go away in my lifetime, so I've got to try and each year step up and try and do a little bit more.
Even when it means supporting other causes, like Andy Roddick's foundation to help needy children.
Watch John's moves on the tennis court 
“He doesn't just want to come and play. He wants to know exactly where the money we're raising is going. How it's going. He always calls two or three days later and asks what's the total tally? How much did we raise?” says Roddick. “He's just really involved in the whole process.”
Why? John says, why not?
“Once you've seen people suffer like this you just don't ever think of stopping. I'll be doing this 'til the day that they put me in the ground because I love doing it, and I just want to try and make a difference.”
To learn more about the organizations these stars have created to make a difference,
and how you can get involved, visit Impact Your World.
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Dear Elton,
you are my hero. during the darkest moments of my hiv diagnosis you in 1988 you were one of my guiding lights. I hardly made it through all that happened during those days and remember many fellow patients that died while being treated at the Kobler centre. and later in the lighthouse. because of high doses of AZT.
then i woke up and came across the theories put forward by porfessor peter duesberg,. i stopped participating in the concorde trial. and recovered my health, reclaimed my life.
over the last 15 years i have lived well, healthy and without any need for ARV's. I am more then ever convinced that HIV is not the cause of AIDS. Even Luc Montagnier now says so. Just google his name and HIV on youtube.
As much as I admire you Elton John, you are putting your good name under a false cause. Instead of fighting AIDS with ARV's, AIDS need to be fought by abolishing poor living conditions and fight poverty in the third world. I urge you to take a close look at the arguments of professor peter duesberg at http://www.duesberg.com, find out more at http://www.noaids.ca and help free ourselves from the wordwide and deadly grip of pharmaceutical greed.
We will never win the battle against AIDS if we cling on to the wrong, deadly and false notion of HIV=AIDS. ALl we accomplished with trillions of tax dollars wasted are ruined and broken lives and partnerships, discriminate against people at home and work by using tests that are highly questionable, imprison those suspected of passing on a virus that may or may not exist, and contribute to a sense of public hysteria that may be based on nothing else by pharma greed.
Elton – you are a musical genius. You do not want to be remembered as some one who is part of something that is so obviously wrong, inhumane and in violation of all basic human rights. there are thousands out there like me, in growing numbers, and we are asking to have our lives and dignity restored. Elton – HELP US!
Someone please tell Elton that his money is going waste...his money is going into the pockets of greedy AIDS researchers and pharma companies who are have been thriving on this hoax.
I am sure this gem of human being will listen to the truth
The day we have celebrities living one lifestyle and "mysteriously" surviving and then preaching the opposite to the third world without the third world being asked what they want we have to realise we have empowered the wrong people. Pop artists represent everything trivial and meaningless in life underneath the surface. That they have a symbiotic relationship with drug companies is heresy to even mention. Cui bono?
"The HIV hypothesis ranks with the 'bad air' theory for malaria and the 'bacterial infection' theory of beriberi and pellagra [caused by nutritional deficiencies]. It is a hoax that became a scam."
– Dr. Bernard Forscher, Conspiracy of Silence, The Sunday Times, 3 April 1994.
Michael,
HIV is not the cause of AIDS. $1 trillion and 3 decades of research have been wasted, along with hundreds of thousands of lives of people murdered by AZT alone. Check out some of these sites: healaids.com, rethinkingaids.com, (Check out the credentials of the first thousand or so signers - including Nobel Laureates, presidents, etc. - to the Rethinking statement.) aliveandwell.org, positivelyfalse.com, and others you'll find linked to them. I was "diagnosed" 22 years ago this past January 7th and told I had 2 years to live without early medical intervention. I never went back to a doctor and had no problems, until an attempt on my life in June of 2008. HIV/AIDS is the gravest racketeering scheme of all time. Invalid theories, invalid tests, deadly treatments, obscene profits and nobody wants to rock the boat.
Edward – What do you mean by the truth? Please enlighten.
Elton is a well-intended, but sadly misguided fool. If he wants to end AIDS let him learn the truth that for over 25 years a growing list of thousands of highly respected scientists, educators, theologians and other intelligent beings have been sharing and calling for an independent, international, scientific reappraisal of HIV theory. We could end AIDS tomorrow just by telling the truth. AIDS will go down in history as the biggest blunder in medical history. The conserted effort by the US government and the pharmaceutical companies has grown what may have been a blunder into the biggest crime in all of recorded history, making 9/11 and Bernie Madoff minor in comparison.
Elton you are a Hero the amount of work time and the money raised for the aids foundation is truly remarkable.
Elton being the open proud homosexual that he is is doing what he needs to do.
He is what Christ seeks in men. Elton and all those who help the least of My Children will have their day in Heaven.
On a personal note, Elton has inspired much of My artwork. Between him and Bernie they have much to be proud of. Cause their works have reached the Heavens.
One day, we will meet, so that I can personally thank him. Keep on rockin Elton and keep doing the work of God.
Elton John is the person I most admire and respect in the world for all he does for charity. He is a very kind and compassionate man. The Elton John AIDS Foundation has received a four star rating from Charity Navigator which is the highest rating available. Elton also donates his time and money to many other charities. He is a great humanitarian.
And sir elton spends his time and money doing what is required. All to whom much has been given should be required to do the same. Where is BHO?
To who much is given much will be required.