Sylvester: Mighty Real And Still Giving Back

A few weeks after being featured on the TV One series Unsung, Sylvester continues to impact people’s lives.

A story in the Bay Area Reporter revealed that Sylvester’s estate is donating nearly $140,000 to Project Open Hand and the AIDS Emergency Fund in San Francisco.

When Sylvester died in 1988, he bequeathed his royalties to AIDS organizations. But his estate was in debt until the late 1990s, at which point the money was kept in an account while research was conducted to determine who would receive the funds.

Project Open Hand supplies meals for people with HIV/AIDS. Sylvester’s royalties will purchase 13,000 meals.

The AIDS Emergency Fund provides financial assistance for life necessities such as utilities, rent, medical insurance premiums, and phone service.

With the continued popularity of Sylvester classics like “Dance (Disco Heat),” “You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real),” and “You Are My Friend,” as well as the recent reissue of his early, pre-disco albums on Blue Thumb, it stands to reason that Sylvester’s catalog will generate many more royalties in the future.

The giving spirit of Sylvester’s actions are yet another reason why Sylvester is a role model for the black gay people around the world.