We Are the World

==Humanitarian aid==
Four months after the release of "We Are the World", USA for Africa had taken in almost $10.8&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|10.8|1986|r=0}}}} million today).<ref name="USA for Africa readies for first mercy mission">{{cite news|title=USA for Africa readies for first mercy mission|last=Glave|first=Judie|date=May 17, 1985|newspaper=The Gainesville Sun}}</ref><ref name="Record's first profits will go to the hungry">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/05/19/arts/record-s-first-profits-will-go-to-the-hungry.html?sec=&spon=|title=Record's first profits will go to the hungry|date=May 19, 1985|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref> The majority of the money came from record sales within the US.<ref name="USA for Africa readies for first mercy mission" /><ref name="Record's first profits will go to the hungry" /> Members of the public also donated money—almost $1.3&nbsp;million within the same time period. In May 1985, USA for Africa officials estimated that they had sold between $45&nbsp;million and $47&nbsp;million worth of official merchandise around the world. Organizer Ken Kragen announced that they would not be distributing all of the money at once. Instead, he revealed that the foundation would be looking into finding a long-term solution for Africa's problems.<ref name="USA for Africa readies for first mercy mission" /> "We could go out and spend it all in one shot. Maybe we'd save some lives in the short term but it would be like putting a Band-Aid over a serious wound."<ref name="USA for Africa readies for first mercy mission" /> Kragen noted that experts had predicted that it would take at least 10 to 20&nbsp;years to make a slight difference to Africa's long-term problems.<ref name="USA for Africa readies for first mercy mission" />

In June 1985, the first USA for Africa cargo jet carrying food, medicine, and clothing departed for Ethiopia and [[Sudan]]. It stopped ''en route'' in New York, where 15,000&nbsp;T-shirts were added to the cargo. Included in the supplies were high-protein biscuits, high-protein vitamins, medicine, tents, blankets and refrigeration equipment.<ref name="Music group sends supplies">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/06/11/world/around-the-world-music-group-sends-supplies-to-ethiopians.html?n=Top/News/Science/Topics/Drought|title=Music group sends supplies|date=June 11, 1985|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref> Harry Belafonte, representing the USA for Africa musicians, visited Sudan in the same month. The trip was his last stop on a four-nation tour of Africa. Tanzanian Prime Minister [[Salim Ahmed Salim]] greeted and praised Belafonte, telling him, "I personally and the people of [[Tanzania]] are moved by this tremendous example of human solidarity."<ref name="Belafonte visits Sudan">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MuoVAAAAIBAJ&pg=6245,6038350&dq=we-are-the-world|title=Belafonte visits Sudan|date=June 22, 1985|newspaper=[[Wilmington Morning Star]]|access-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref>

[[File:Opbushel.jpg|thumb|left|alt=A [[Royal Air Force]] [[C-130 Hercules]] military plane. Its propellers attach to its wings, and it appears to be hovering just above a barren field. From the back of the aircraft, a package is being dropped onto the field from an open rear gangway.|A military aircraft dropping food during the [[1984–1985 famine in Ethiopia|1984–1985 Ethiopian famine]]]]
One year after the release of "We Are the World", organizers noted that $44.5&nbsp;million had been raised for USA for Africa's humanitarian fund. They stated that they were confident that they would reach an initial set target of $50&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|50|1986|r=0}}}} million in {{CURRENTYEAR}}).<ref name="USA for Africa nears goal">{{cite news|title=USA for Africa nears goal|date=March 10, 1986|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times}}</ref> By October 1986, it was revealed that their $50&nbsp;million target had been met and exceeded; [[Sony Music|CBS Records]] gave USA for Africa a check for $2.5&nbsp;million, drawing the total amount of money to $51.2&nbsp;million.<ref name="'We Are the World' passes goal; states getting 'Hands' money">{{cite news|title='We Are the World' passes goal; states getting 'Hands' money|last=Wilson|first=Jeff|date=October 9, 1986|newspaper=The Gainesville Sun}}</ref> USA for Africa's Hands Across America event had also raised a significant amount of money—approximately $24.5&nbsp;million for the hungry in the US.<ref name="'We Are the World' passes goal; states getting 'Hands' money" />

Since its release, "We Are the World" has raised over $80&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|80|1986|r=0}}}} million today) for humanitarian causes.<ref name="auto"/> Ninety percent of the money was pledged to African relief, both long and short term.<ref name="'We Are the World' passes goal; states getting 'Hands' money" /><ref name="USA for Africa: a hunger to share">{{cite news|title=USA for Africa: a hunger to share|last=Pike|first=Douglas|date=April 28, 1985|newspaper=[[The Spokesman-Review]]}}</ref> The long-term initiative included efforts in birth control and food production.<ref name="USA for Africa: a hunger to share" /> The remaining 10&nbsp;percent of funds was earmarked for domestic hunger and homeless programs in the US.<ref name="'We Are the World' passes goal; states getting 'Hands' money" /><ref name="USA for Africa: a hunger to share" /> From the African fund, over 70&nbsp;recovery and development projects were launched in seven African nations. Such projects included aid in agriculture, fishing, water management, manufacturing and reforestation. Training programs were also developed in the African countries of Mozambique, Senegal, Chad, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, and Mali.<ref name="'We Are the World' passes goal; states getting 'Hands' money"/>

Following [[Death of Michael Jackson|Jackson's death]] in 2009, Elias Kifle Maraim Beyene, who grew up in Ethiopia and was a beneficiary of the aid provided by the single, related:
{{blockquote|I won't ever forget Michael Jackson because his contribution to the song We are the World had a very significant effect on my life. I am 50 now but 25 years ago I was living in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, which at that time was suffering from a long drought and famine. It was a terrible situation. Lots of people became sick and many more died. Around one million people in all were killed by the famine. In 1984 Michael Jackson, along with a number of other leading musicians, made the song We are the World to raise money for Africa. We received a lot of aid from the world and I was one of those who directly benefitted from it. The wheat flour that was distributed to the famine victims was different to the usual cereal we bought at the market. We baked a special bread from it. The local people named the bread after the great artist and it became known as Michael Bread. It was soft and delicious.

When you have been through such hard times you never forget events like this. If you speak to anyone who was in [[Addis Ababa]] at that time they will all know what Michael Bread is and I know I will remember it for the rest of my life.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8120745.stm|publisher=[[BBC News]]|title=Jackson death: Global fans' reaction | date=June 26, 2009}}</ref>}}