Jackson estate gives to Broadway, Vegas needy amid outbreak

Michael Jackson estate is donating $300,000 to help entertainment industry workers on Broadway, music business and in Las Vegas who have been hurt by coronavirus pandemic.

estate anunced Wednesday that it will give $100,000 apiece to Broadway Cares, food bank Three Square in Nevada and MusiCares, because all three areas have been good to estate and to Jackson.

“This virus, this pandemic affects all of us obviously, so we wanted to start in our own communities,” John Branca, estate’s co-executor, told Associated Press. “This is personal for us.”

A Jackson-med Broadway show, “MJ Musical” is scheduled to start previews in July, though like rest of Broadway it is currently on hold amid coronavirus shutdown . anuncements have been made on postponing show, and estate and producers are taking a wait-and-see approach, Branca said.

“Michael Jackson ONE,” long-running Jackson-based Cirque du Soleil show at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, where Jackson lived late in his life, is also on hold indefinitely.

estate’s donation re will provide 300,000 meals to needy, and help to maintain supplies of food bank Three Square, estate said.

In New York, estate says it is donating to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS’ COVID-19 Emergency Assistance Fund , and will give rest to MusiCares , charitable branch of Recording Academy that helps those in music industry who are ecomically struggling.

estate says donations are inspired by constant charitable work of Jackson himself.

“Michael was extremely generous both of his time and his money in his life, and it’s in his music too,” Branca said. “We look to Michael for leadership and inspiration. We’re doing what Michael would have been doing.”

For most people, new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.