Not all public figures do good works - and few do so quietly. But, for James Brown, contributions to society are not limited to just music.

From lyrics with an edifying message - to delivering turkeys at
Thanksgiving - to playing Santa Claus at Christmas, James Brown has been a quiet, but effective, philanthropist.

As someone who left school in the seventh grade, Mr. Brown
expressed his understanding of the value of education when he sang "Don't be a Drop-out" in a 1966 campaign to keep kids in school.

And, in a nation where few public figures make a profound
contribution to the elimination of racism, James Brown used his personal stature to help calm riots in the wake of the assassination of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.

Examples of James Brown’s generous efforts include:

• Providing over 800 Thanksgiving turkeys to people in his
hometown of Augusta, Ga. This annual event has grown
during the past six years. Not only has Mr. Brown given his
own time and money, he has involved both local merchants
and prominent Georgians in donations that reflect the true
spirit of the holiday.

• Playing Santa Claus in red leather suit and cowboy boots for
hundreds of children in Augusta, Ga. Like his support for
Thanksgiving, his Christmas donations are personal (his own
money and live performances) and communal. Again, his
efforts have been a catalyst for local business involvement.

" Mr. Brown does this every year because he grew up on the streets of Augusta, and he feels like the children of Augusta are like his own children,'' said Stacy Brown, general manager of Mr. Brown's radio station, WAAW (94.7).

James Brown’s support for the elimination of violence in schools is best exemplified by his creation of the song “Killing's Out and School's In.” In pondering the recent loss of life in Santana, Jonesboro, and Columbine, he has shown not only an acute awareness of the challenge,but also a willingness to take time to contribute to the solutions.

" We need to protect the kids by giving them something to do," Brown says. " (It's about) making them interested, making them love mom and dad more,love the family more, love themselves more and love their school. So there won't have to be killing in school."

In the 1960’s, Mr. Brown’s commitment to the ideals of the American dream impelled him to give performances in Vietnam - despite the lack of popular domestic support for the war effort.

Aside from donating 3,000 turkeys and 20,000 Christmas toys to underprivileged families this season, Mr. Brown gave a brand new Lincoln to a woman in Kansas who couldn't get to church on time because her car broke down. Mr. Brown was humble about his helpful act stating,

" It was something that needed to be done. She's trying to get people to church and we need to go to church. I need to go more myself! Ha ha! I've been so busy, working so hard, but I don't put nothing before God. I'm always on my knees every night."

It would seem that the influence of Gospel music had an impact on more than just James Brown's style and his interactive relationship with his concert audiences. It had an impact on the style of his off-stage life as well - his reciprocal relationship to his community.

The term "soul music" is accurately linked to that part of humanity that shares a universal inner reality. And, James Brown, the " Godfather of Soul" can claim a profound understanding of not only soul music, but also soul living - contributions that enrich the quality
of our entire world.