By May Long

John Mayer is entertaining, and not just as a singer songwriter. His antics on Twitter and his outspoken interviews have earned him a reputation as a flighty, off the wall loudmouth; but his work with various charities tells a different story. Mayer has given freely of his time, his money and his voice as a well-known musician. Don’t mistake his entertaining antics with a lack of compassion.

John Mayer grew up in Connecticut, and started playing guitar when he was 13. After high school, he spent two semesters at the Berklee College of Music in Boston before dropping out to move to Atlanta with a friend. It was in Atlanta that Mayer found his niche in blues and perfected his songwriting style. He released his first album in 2001, called Room for Squares.

Since that release, John Mayer has won seven Grammy awards, as well as dozens of other various music awards. He has released four solo albums, two albums with the John Mayer Trio, and enjoyed critical acclaim for his singing, talent with the guitar, and his songwriting. And while Mayer continues to enjoy success as a musician, he has always found ways to give back through his work with charities and activism.

In 2002, Mayer developed a nonprofit organization focused on raising funds for health care, education, the arts and talent development in underprivileged areas. The Back to You Fund still raises money today through auctions of Mayer merchandise, as well as items donated by other musicians and artists. The biggest money-maker for the organization has been tickets for select shows, which often are sold at the foundations auction website for several times their face value.

The Back to You Fund has donated money in the form of grants to a diverse range of nonprofit charities and organizations working in communities nationwide. Causes such as HIV/AIDS education and research in his hometown of Fairfield, Connecticut, as well as school music programs and many other charities have benefitted from Mayer’s organization. Proceeds from every John Mayer tour go directly to the Back to You Fund, and fans can visit booths to learn more and donate as well.

Mayer has been generous with his music, as well, lending his talents to a number of concerts for causes and collaborations to benefit relief efforts after disasters. He performed at the Live Earth concert, and subsequently had his own tour bus converted over to eco-friendly bio-diesel fuel.  He has been involved in concerts to benefit victims of the Virginia Tech massacre in 2007, as well as appearing on albums to benefit Toys for Tots, Inner City Arts projects and in support of Tibet.

John Mayer is outspoken and often criticized for speaking his mind. But his work with Back to You and other charities speaks volumes about his inner spirit. John Mayer continues to work hard to provide funding for nonprofits, and his music will continue to bring pleasure to his fans, despite his critics.