Findings
| When | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | Charles refused to perform at a venue in Augusta (Georgia) after learning that Black and white audience members would be segregated. He was sued for breaking his contract and fined, accepting a financial penalty rather than perform under discriminatory seating rules. | Source |
| Charles provided financial support to Martin Luther King Jr. and the civil-rights struggle. He explained that his contribution was to help cover practical costs, such as transportation, food and legal expenses. | Source | |
| Since 1962 | Charles supported sickle cell disease programs for decades and served as honorary chairman of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Association for Sickle Cell Disease. | Source |
| 1985 | Charles joined the recording of “We Are the World,” the 1985 charity single whose proceeds supported humanitarian relief for people affected by famine in Africa. | Source |
| 1986 | Charles founded the Robinson Foundation for Hearing Disorders, later renamed the Ray Charles Foundation. He established it to support people with hearing disorders, including financial assistance for cochlear implants, and to fund educational institutions and programs. The foundation continues to provide grants for hearing-related causes and education after his death in 2004. | Source |
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