The former lead singer for The Police has kept busy since he went solo. Sting has been doing some acting, touring and even bought his own Yoga center in New York. He's had several hit songs as well, including Desert Rose. Sting, whose real name is Gordon Matthew Sumner, has also been doing his fair share of charity events.
In 1989, with the help of his wife and a Brazilian Indian chief, Sting helped start the Rainforest Foundation US (RF-US) to stop the destruction of the rainforests in Brazil. He's also helped raise awareness for the problems aboriginals deal with in the Amazon. Aboriginals have been fighting for rights in Brazil and to legally have their own territory. Right now they are trying to secure and control their natural resources.
Another charity Sting has helped raise money for is Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy. Nordoff is an institute that uses music as therapy for mentally challenged people. The institute doesn't receive any government funding so it relies completely on fundraising.
There is an endless list of concerts Sting has participated in that raised money for various charities. He's done Live Aid and Band Aid which raised money for victims of the famine in Ethiopia. The Live Aid concert lasted 16 hours with music from around the world and raised over $100 million. Sting also participated in SportsAid, which gives financial assistance to young athletes who need it.
Sting has also helped out the Elton John Aids Foundation and Amnesty International. Recently he was awarded for his work on human rights and the environment by the Arab American Institute Foundation. The Queen of Jordan gave the Kahlil Gibran Spirit of Humanity Award to him and told the crowd, "Sting's committed, dedicated and gentle humanity comes through so clearly in his music, in his activism and for those of us who are privileged to know him, in his everyday life."
If you're wondering where Sting got his nickname from here's the scoop. When he was with the band The Phoenix Jazzmen everyone but him had a nickname. One day Sting came to practice in a striped soccer sweater and the trombone player, Gordon Solomon, said that Sting looked like a bee. After that he was called Stinger and then eventually just Sting
Do you know any celebrities who give to charity we should profile?
