The Hanson Brothers
Although best known for their hit single "MMMBop" and early musical success, Isaac, Taylor and Zac Hanson have also proven that they care deeply about doing good around the globe. Over the past several years, the three brothers have made it a point to educate their fans and the world about poverty and AIDS in Africa through their "Take the Walk" campaign .
In July of 2006, the band recorded with a school choir in Sewoto, South Africa to create the song "Great Divide," which was later released through iTunes. All proceeds from the song have been directed towards research and prevention of AIDS in Africa. In Semptember of 2007, the band began "The Walk Tour" and partnered with TOMS shoes, an American company that, for every pair of shoes sold, donates another pair to a child in Africa. Hanson helped raise awareness of TOMS by inviting their fans to take a 1-mile barefoot walk with them before each show on their tour, demonstrating the discomfort African children are forced to endure constantly. Hanson launched their "Walk Around the World Tour" a year later and simultaneously released a coffee table book titled "Take the Walk" that raised further funds for aid groups in Africa.
Hanson continues to host mile walks and encourages fans to organize walks in their own towns as well. The band has vowed to donate one dollar per mile recorded to one of five causes- clean water, shoes, building schools, providing access to healthcare, and supporting medical research... and over 24,000 miles have been recorded so far! Hanson has made a difference through their music, vision and a willingness to act.
