NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess MediaWire) — Jack Johnson will receive the humanitarian award, which recognizes the philanthropic efforts of a touring musician, on November the at the Billboard Touring Awards.
Johnson, who grew up surfing on Oahu's North Shore and competed in pro surf contests in the 90s before becoming a multi-platinum artist, has been an environmental advocate for years. Six years ago, he and his wife, Kim, founded the Kokua Hawaii Foundation, an environmental educational program for Hawaiian schoolchildren. In 2008, Johnson donated 100 percent of his tour profits to local non-profits through a charitable organization he established, the Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation, which has generated over $750,000 in donations according to ESPN.
This year, Johnson is donating all the profits from his "To the Sea" world tour to charities. And his tour is as green as possible: no plastic water bottles, waste reduction, composting, biodiesel-fueled trucks and buses, local and organic foods, eco-friendly concert merchandise, carpooling and carbon offsets.
"Jack Johnson's efforts toward promoting environmental awareness and sustainability clearly reflect a deep personal commitment," says Ray Waddell, Billboard's executive director of content and programming, touring and live entertainment according to ESPN. "When it comes to his career, Johnson never places profits over doing the right thing. Billboard is thrilled to recognize Jack Johnson's ongoing dedication to making this world a better place."
Previous humanitarian award winners include Kevin Lyman (2009), Jon Bon Jovi (2008), Kevin Wall (2007), Music Rising (2006), Dave Matthews (2005) and Clear Channel Entertainment (2004). –by CelebrityAccess Staff Writers
