Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson may have burrowed into the hearts of Americans as creative partners responsible for a litany of Motown hits, but that's not the full story.
For decades, both the Motown founder and the Miracles star have been philanthropic heavyweights — in the service of the music community directly, and the global community at large.
As the MusicCares Persons Of The Year for 2023, the Recording Academy — the world's leading society of music professionals — honors Gordy and Robinson’s humanitarian work in support of the music community and beyond.
Read on for five ways Gordy and Robinson have made significant efforts that benefited the music community and the world at large.
They Support Arts & Music Programs In Schools
Detroit is where Gordy and Robinson were born and reared, so their efforts to give back to Motor City only make sense.
In 2006, Gordy offered an after-school program for budding musicians on behalf of the Motown Center.
"I'm happy with the job Tanya [Heidelberg-Yopp of Motown Center] and her team are doing with this exciting program," Gordy said at the time. "I'm glad to see young people growing in a positive direction."
This education-first purview extends out west with Robinson’s efforts. In 2022, Robinson made a generous donation to a school in South Los Angeles.
"I am so so happy these kids still have access to music and they still have programs where they can play music," Robinson said in a statement.
"When I was in elementary school, I was in a band and played the saxophone," he added with amusement, "and we didn't sound nearly as good as these kids."
They Help Young People In Performing Arts
Founded by songwriter and Motown alumna, Janie Bradford, the Heroes And Legends (HAL) Scholarship Foundation aims to aid at-risk youth by putting them on track to participate in performing arts. Gordy and Robinson are counted as key contributors to this mission.
The HAL Scholarship Foundation publicly recognized both of their efforts at the final installment of the HAL Awards in 2022.
Gordy appeared at the star-studded gala — along with a litany of Motown alumni — for this crucial cause.
They Invest In Detroit Via The Motown Museum
In 2019, Gordy donated $4 million to the Motown Museum — not only a boon to this epicenter for musical expression, but an investment in Detroit as one of America's great music cities.
The $50 million, 50,000-square-foot complex stands on the Hitsville, U.S.A. site on West Grand Boulevard, home of Motown's original headquarters.
An expansion concluded in 2022, marked with a grand reopening. At the event, Robinson delivered a touching speech.
"There are kids who haven't been born yet, whose parents haven't been born yet, who will know about Motown," the Miracles star said.
They Advocate For The MusiCares MAP Fund
The MusiCares MAP fund served to provide members of the music community access to addiction recovery treatment regardless of their financial situation.
In 2016, the MusiCares MAP Fund threw a tribute concert in honor of Robinson, featuring GRAMMY-nominated artists El DeBarge and Kem, and GRAMMY winners Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds and Cee Lo Green.
In a statement, the Recording Academy's then-president and CEO, Neil Portnow, noted that Robinson is a "passionate advocate for the MusiCares MAP Fund." Gordy served as the Honorary Tribute Chair for the event.
They Uplift Global Health & Dignity
Gordy and Robinson's philanthropy extends beyond the music industry to benefit communities globally. —
In 2021, Gordy made a generous donation to the Saint John's Health Center Foundation, which funds the Berry Gordy Clinical Research Laboratory at Providence Saint John's Health Center.
"I want the discoveries made at the lab to have an impact on the Black community and all communities in need," Gordy said in a statement. "Disease affects all of us. Motown made music for all of us. Health care should be the same way."
Another universal human need is water. Robinson has been an outspoken advocate for ameliorating water-borne diseases for more than a decade.
In 2012, the singer launched a social media site called Smoke Alarm to raise awareness about important issues utilizing his professional and celebrity connections. The issue of clean drinking water was their first order of business.
Whether giving the world tantalizing tunes, safe water or good health, Gordy and Robinson are undeniable lights in the universe, and forces for good. And that's why they're the 2023 MusiCares Persons Of The Year.