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Written By: Mark Schmocker
Deadmau5, internationally recognized for his mouse inspired headwear and Tim Horton’s double-double passion is up to his old tricks, however not the sort you’d have come to expect.
We all know Deadmau5 has been unafraid to call out big names from both within and outside of the ever-expanding dance music circle, except this time he’s calling the rest of us out and is shaking hands instead of shaking his head.
United Way Milton, a charity organization based in Milton, Ontario, Canada, came together with Deadmau5 for the second year in a row, but this year upped the ante. United Way Milton held their 2015 Campaign Kick-off event at The Mohawk Racetrack in Milton at the end of September this year featuring food, entertainment, good times and better company.
Deadmau5 did us proud representing the dance community, alongside local celebrities and political figureheads who were delighted to be out supporting and promoting the cause whilst giving the public the chance to come meet and greet. Soon after the charity made announcements on the night, Deadmau5 approached United Way Milton to make a generous contribution.
“I think it’s very important that organizations like United Way Milton are stepping up to the plate to close the gap, and help better serve our community.”
United Way Milton raises funds to ensure they can provide community services to keep Milton’s currently surging population healthy. The charity itself supports 29 different organizations that provide food and mentoring programs as well as health care and family services.
Deadmau5’s donation puts the foundation one huge step closer to achieving their goal of $1 million. Whilst the donation was made in private and how much is unclear, the donation was publicly acknowledged.
“It was a huge shock, I had no idea! But we are so appreciative and thankful for Deadmau5’s donation, it will be a massive boost in helping United Way Milton reach its campaign goal this year, but we still have lots of work to do to close the gap in our growing community” said United Way Milton CEO, Kate Holmes."
We don’t often hear of this side of Deadmau5, as it’s far less publicized, nevertheless United Way Milton is not alone on the list of causes he supports. In the last 18 months alone, Deadmau5 has worked alongside the Make-A-Wish Foundation, attended the 3rd annual BFF Gala donating $10,000 to waiver his chances at karaoke glory, participated in the Gumball 3000 charity drive and subsequently sold his rainbow wrapped ‘Purarri’ for the Toronto Humane Society, all before partnering with (RED) and Coca-Cola to provide a VIP tour experience of his home and studio to help fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Earlier in the year a rare Mau5head was also donated, which sported a sleek and simple black and white ace of spades design, bringing in a cool $60,000 to the Gumball 3000 Charity in their auction and awards ceremony.
Good guy Deadmau5 has on multiple occasions reached out to fans personally, one such time when he supplied a care package of music production and DJ goodies to a fan that was attacked for his gear on the way home from a gig at the end of 2014.
We also can’t forget the pure joy brought to the face of young super-fan Darius who draws Mau5heads and shares them online every day. Deadmau5 spent the day with Darius and his dad at the Kocheda Winter Music Festival and even let the boy don the real thing.
Having come a long way since posting to Twitter in 2012 “I just wish, sometimes, I could help change some things outside of EDM world, to make everyone’s lives better somehow. Maybe one day”, Deadmau5 serves as a timely reminder during the current world crises. Whilst not all of us can make such sizable donations, we can all make positive contributions to those in need of community and support. His example of his love for his community and fans is a constructive example of how our time, effort, presence and attitude can make a difference.
It’s encouraging to see that whilst 2015 was a relatively quiet year for Deadmau5 in terms of releases, it hasn’t be the same on the philanthropy front.
Love him or hate him, you can’t deny the Deadmau5 is doing some good.
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