FROM LEFT: Quincy Jones; Jones bonds with a baby in Rwanda; Jones with students in South Africa; Audemars Piguet’s Millenary Quincy Jones limited-edition watch, which benefits The Quincy Jones Foundation (BELOW)
I am often asked why giving back and trying to help others is so important to me, and the answer is very simple: It is who I am; it is what is in my DNA. Growing up on the South Side of Chicago during the Depression, I learned firsthand what it’s like to feel there is no way out of the misery. But I was fortunate enough to find a way out of the darkness through music, and, just as important, to find men and women who took the time to nurture and encourage my dreams by sharing their knowledge of music, business and life—people like Ray Charles, Clark Terry, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie and Lionel Hampton, among many others. One of the most valuable lessons those wonderful souls taught me wasthat none of the successes mattered if you weren’t able to use the fruits of those successes to help others, and there is no greater force in the universe to do that than music. It was that belief in the power of music to bring people together for the betterment of mankind that led to the formation of The Quincy Jones Foundation, which supports initiatives around the world that contribute to the health and well-being of children.
As citizens of the world, now more than ever we all need to care for and help those who are less fortunate. From the favelas of Brazil to the orphanages of Cambodia to the impoverished villages of Africa, there can be no excuse for any child on this planet to go hungry, be struck down by disease or fear for their lives because of a raging genocide. I know in my heart that if we all come together, we can change the reality of every child on this planet who is affected by poverty, plague or war. We can instill in them a sense of hope and help them soar and achieve all of their dreams. That is the ultimate aim of The Quincy Jones Foundation and its associated partners.
None of us can claim that our successes were achieved on our own. It was with God’s will, the help of those who cared enough to take the time to hoist us upon their shoulders and a little luck that those of us who have been fortunate enough to find success were able to. To me, it’s not a lot to ask to give back as much as has been given to you. Visit qjfoundation.org.
