Cause Celeb

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Celeb: Michael Bolton

Cause: Michael Bolton Foundation, formed to assist “children and women at risk…broaden horizons and expand opportunities for youth across socioeconomic and multicultural lines”

What he’s done: Started the foundation, appeared at fundraising events

What celeb gets: A chance to atone for his musical sins?

What cause gets: An annual celebrity softball game, Bolton’s singing…and some money

Connection between celeb and cause: None detectable

Chance celeb will humiliate cause: It’s already happened. Late filings of paperwork with the state of Connecticut led to press accounts of the foundation’s sad percentage of giveaways compared to income: a paltry 15 percent in 1995, and only 30 percent from 1993 to 1996 overall.

What good came of this? The miniscandal has not “dampened my spirit or commitment,” Bolton vows. In 1996 the foundation did distribute $863,000 to various shelter and social service programs for troubled kids, mostly in Connecticut and New York.

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BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

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