Elvis - A Lighted Candle

[Rainbow Light]

Have found another example of how Elvis continues to be a great example and inspiration, happy reading ....

A Younger Generation of Elvis Fans
As we all know, Elvis loved children. Elvis said, "They (children) come first...the most precious things in life. A parent should do anything it takes to give a child a sense of family...all any kid needs is hope and feeling he or she belongs. If I could do anything that would give somem kid that feeling, I would believe I had contributed something to the world." I have heard so many stories from those who as children were helped through their troubled times by Elvis and/or his music.

One young man came to see me several years ago bearing a plaque he had made for Elvis. His story was one of being alone and heartbroken as a child. He said, "By the law of average, I should have grown up to become a criminal; but instead, I have faith in my lord, I am in college, and I play football for the Ohio Buckeyes. This is because of Elvis' example and his music, especially his gospel music." He had brought the plaque as a way of saying thank you to Elvis. His dream was to continue playing football for the Buckeyes and then for the Detroit Lions. I haven't heard from this young man, but I hope his dream becomes a reality, just as Elvis' did.

So Elvis, you did and have given kids a feeling of belonging and you did contribute something to the world. I once had a reporter tell me that it was too bad that all kids didn't have to an opportunity to join Elvis fan clubs instead of gangs. The statement puzzled me so I asked him to explain. He said, "Well, there seems to be a 'family' atmosphere in the clubs which would give them a sense of belonging. The clubs produce newsletters that teach the kids reading and writing skills. The clubs work with all types of people which would give them people skills. There are dues to be collected and managed which would teach them financial skills, and they give to charity which would teach them humanitarian skills."

[Wanda June Hill]

That's a great story! I would like to put that in Elvis- Face To Face if you wouldn't mind. I am putting things other than what I saw,heard,did,etc;... to include inspirational things regarding Elvis-and to put that in about fans clubs and how they can help teach kids through being fans of Elvis' well, how great that would be and Elvis would love it too. I just wonder if that ever occured to him? It did not to me, not like the guy put it-wouldn't have thought about that myself. Wjh

[Rainbow Light]

Sure, no problem with putting that in 'Face to Face', please go ahead. It may have occurred to Elvis though maybe not with his deep sense of humility that he did and he may have played it down even if he had heard/known about it?

But it would be nice to think that Elvis would have got to hear about how he had been such a great example and inspiration to others, probably would have made him happy to think he had such effect on others, hope so anyhow.

[Rainbow Light]

Such a continuing inspiration to all, not only in how Elvis chose to help people but just caring and in how he treated anyone generally in his life.

[Rainbow Light]

Elvis' good example also continues within so many of the Fan Clubs all over the world to keep giving to various charities and donations everywhere, am sure he'd be pleased and proud also as loved his fans so much!

[Rainbow Light]

Bringing this subject back up to the front for the newer members to read.

[Rainbow Light]

Elvis and Charity
Elvis Presley is known for his many talents and accomplishment -he was a prolific recording artist, a successful movie star, a charismatic stage performer. But one of his most enduring and endearing qualities was his generosity and commitment to charity. Giving spontaneously was very much in Elvis' nature. Even as a child whose family was too poor to provide him with many material things, he shared and gave away his own toys to other kids. As a teenager, Elvis saved his earnings from his job as a movie usher to buy a print of Jesus for his parents. He said it was the favorite gift he ever gave anybody.

Elvis took great pleasure in seeing the look on people's faces when he gave them a "happy," which was his nickname for a gift. His heartfelt benevolence is part of the reason he's held in such high esteem by his fans. There's no way to know for sure, but it's been estimated that he made approximately $4 billion during his career and gave half of it away. Elvis was more than an entertainer, he was, and continues to be, an inspiration for people to remember those less fortunate than themselves. Although Elvis became fabulously wealthy, he seemed never to forget what it meant to be poor. He spent the first few weeks of his life in the charity ward of a hospital and it may be based in this sense of vulnerability that he frequently donated to various medical charities.

When he first achieved his extraordinary level of fame, he used it to help raise money and awareness for many causes. He lent his name and image to the American Cancer Society and the American Library Association, among others. He posed for photos while giving blood and getting vaccines. He arranged for the thousands of teddy bears that fans sent him to be distributed to children in hospitals.

One of the reasons Elvis so loved the holidays was because they are the season of giving. In 1961, he started a Christmas tradition of distributing checks to more than 50 charitable organizations, donating more than $100,000 each year. He gave cash and donated many personal items to be auctioned off for charity. In 1964, Elvis purchased the FDR presidential yacht, the Potomac, and donated it to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which in turn sold it for $55,000. One of his Rolls Royces was auctioned off in 1968 to raise money for a charity that aided mentally retarded children. Sometimes, with his permission, even the bed linens and towels from the hotel rooms he stayed at while on tour were auctioned for charities. (Although we're guessing that many other times, without his permission, his linens were gathered up by others and sold for many reasons other than to give money to charity.) Although celebrities often make contributions to good causes for the sheen it adds to their image, Elvis frequently gave anonymously.

There are countless stories that came to light only after Elvis' death that recount his merciful role to some unfortunate person he didn't know. The best book on this subject, The Best of Elvis: Recollections of a Great Humanitarian by Cindy Hazen and Mike Freeman, recalls so many wonderful aspects of Elvis and tells so many touching stories, you will certainly feel like you know him more deeply after reading it. Often on reading about someone's declining circumstances in the newspaper, Elvis would dispatch one of his men with a check to try to help. He paid off people's debts and mortgages. One time he bought, and personally delivered, a state-of-the-art wheelchair to an old woman who couldn't afford to replace the wheelchair that was stolen from her. We can never really know the full extent of Elvis' charity. Elvis was even generous to the wealthy. In 1973 he gave his good friend Muhammad Ali an elaborate robe with "The People's Champion" emblazoned on the back. He gave Sammy Davis, Jr., a black sapphire ring worth tens of thousands of dollars. He once said, "Nobody ever thinks to give a rich man a gift."

Among Elvis' most memorable performances were the many benefit concerts he gave throughout his career. In 1956 and 1957 Elvis performed at the Tupelo Fairgrounds in his hometown to raise money for the Elvis Presley Youth Foundation there. On March 25, 1961, Elvis performed a benefit concert at Bloch Arena in Hawaii that raised $65,000 toward the building of the USS Arizona Memorial. The famous "Aloha from Hawaii" concert that was watched by around half the world1»4s population in 1973 was a benefit concert that raised mor an $75,000 for the Kuiokalani Lee Cancer Fund. Elvis, who as a small child survived a killer tornado that ripped through Tupelo, gave a concert in Jackson, Mississippi, in 1975, that raised more than $100,000 for tornado victims in his home state. A unique feature of all Elvis' benefit concerts was the Colonel1»4s policy that everyone had to buy a ticket, including Elvis and the Colonel. The proceeds from the sale of souvenirs at his concerts often went directly to charity.

For most fans who attended an Elvis concert, the memories of that experience will forever be a treasure. Some lucky fans, however, left the concert hall with a different kind of treasure. At a concert in Asheville, North Carolina, in 1975, Elvis gave out a king's ransom worth of jewelry to audience members. At another concert that year, Elvis took the diamond medallion cross that he wore around his neck and gave it to a five-year-old girl in the audience who reminded him of Lisa Marie. Elvis gave away so much jewelry, he traveled with his own personal jeweler, Lowell Hayes, who carried a portable jewelry mini-mart with him. Elvis bought close to $700,000 worth f jewelry from Hayes during the last five years of his life, most of which he gave away.

Perhaps the major beneficiaries of Elvis largesse were the friends and family with whom he shared his life. Elvis1»4 infamous entourage, the Memphis Mafia, received lavish gifts of cars, jewelry, houses, vacations, cash bonuses, weddings, and even surgery. Elvis paid for a nose job for George Klein, an intestinal bypass for Lamar Fike, a kidney transplant for his friend and producer Felton Jarvis, even a breast augmentation operation for one of the Mafia wives (upon her husband's request).

Elvis' favorite gift was also one of his own favorite things to buy for himselfÞa shiny new set of wheels. Elvis and his friends would often visit a car dealership and buy out the entire stock. He didn't just buy cars for his friends, he would buy cars for perfect strangers. On one car-buying spree in Memphis during July 1975, Elvis bought and gave away 13 Cadillacs. When he noticed bank teller Mennie Person admiring his limousine parked in front of the dealership, he bought her a Caddy also and even gave her a check to buy some clothes go with the car. While vacationing in Colorado, he decided to buy a fleet of cars for some of his police buddies and their wives. Don Kinney, a local DJ, heard about Elvis' splurges and jokingly announced over the airwaves that if Elvis was listening, he wanted a car too. The next day he was the proud owner of a Cadillac Seville compliments of the King. Elvis gave away so many cars that it1»4s become a pop culture clichÁ. In the 1999 film Father's Day, Billy Crystal's character gives Robin Williams's the keys to his car to which Williams quips, "How Elvis of you."

Amazingly, Elvis' spirit of generosity continues to be carried on today. Inspired by Elvis' example, many of his fans have made charity work their raison d'Œtre. Many fan club events are fund-raisers for one cause or another. Every year, especially during Tribute Week, fans from all over the world make donations to the charities Elvis supported. At the Elvis Presley Trauma Center in Memphis, a wall is covered with plaques recognizing the philanthropic activities done in his honor by Elvis fan clubs.

[Rainbow Light]

That's a great story! I would like to put that in Elvis- Face To Face if you wouldn't mind. I am putting things other than what I saw,heard,did,etc;... to include inspirational things regarding Elvis-and to put that in about fans clubs and how they can help teach kids through being fans of Elvis' well, how great that would be and Elvis would love it too. I just wonder if that ever occured to him? It did not to me, not like the guy put it-wouldn't have thought about that myself. Wjh

Hi Wanda!

If you haven't already done so re Face To Face, please feel free to add the story at the beginning of this thread to your book, will be a really nice addition!

Best wishes, Sue

[Elvis'SweetSweetSpirit]

Thanks Sue this is a really great story I enjoyed reading it! Elvis was such giving loving and caring man and he still is! He is such a wonderful inspiriation wish there were more people in this world like Elvis it would be a better world if there were!!

Thanks,
Fran

[Rainbow Light]

You are very welcome, Fran and all you have mentioned is so very true, he remains a great inspiration for so many people still to this today, not only his voice and musical gifts but for who he was too!

[Rainbow Light]

Bringing this thread back up to the top for any forum members who haven't read as yet.

[Amanda Viola]

Elvis said, "They (children) come first...the most precious things in life. A parent should do anything it takes to give a child a sense of family...all any kid needs is hope and feeling he or she belongs. If I could do anything that would give somem kid that feeling, I would believe I had contributed something to the world."

It still amazes me how right to the point Elvis expressed it -something so true- made in such a clear and simple way. I don't know how old was he at the time of saying it, but anyhow, it's told he was "boyish" but, just the same, so mature and "connected" to come to a conclusion like this.

[Wanda June Hill]

Right on, his parent's he said, always put him first...if there was food he got it, if he needed something, they scraped it up, when he was ill and no one local could help, his mom scrubbed floors in a hospital at night and worked doing laundry by hand at home plus she cleaned at another house to get money and bus fare to take him to another town to see a "better doctor". He remembered that, he was about 3 1/2 and loved the bus ride but was scared to death of the big building and the strangness of it's size-it was he said, the biggest one he'd ever been in or seen and smelled like "death" -I guess it was a hospital or something-anyway, he remembered and they "hurt him" took some blood and gave him a shot of something...and some medicine to take home. Then gave him a lolipop-and he was "happy".
He laughed telling about that lolipop-he said, "yeah, jus' give me some sugar...an' I'm a happy boy!" of course that was NOT exactly what the reference was... in the way he said it. He learned early that children were gifts from God and should be treated as such... He went out of his way to help them at every oportunity...and was easily took in by youngsters who conned him. He even had some young kids in Germany whom he was doing things for and spending time with-including some young girls, one of whom lived with an uncle who beat her or something (also heard it was her step dad) but whatever, Elvis let her stay with him-of course he could have been in lots of trouble for that, but he did it anyway. And there were some who slept on the floor in his room! Just like Patty Perry, he let her stay with him in Bel Air, Memphis etc:...because she was mistreated and had no one else. wjh

[Rainbow Light]

It does sound like Elvis was willing to help anyone out, specially those he felt or knew to have been mistreated, hurt or in trouble of some kind even if he got in trouble himself for doing so. Had such a deep sense of love and compassion for others in need.

[Amanda Viola]

INDEED!