George Michael and the Taco Bell Rock Art Cup Charity Fundraising

In 1991, George Michael joined the American fast food chain Taco Bell in their Rock Art Cup charity fundraising. Taco Bell spearheaded a $1 million charity campaign by teaming up with musical superstars M.C. Hammer, Scorpions, George Michael, Diana Ross, and Bell Biv DeVoe.

Original artwork created or inspired by each performer or group served as the basis of a national grass-roots campaign that run between Aug. 12 and Sept. 8, 1991. Rock Art Cups for Charity offered five collectible versions of the celebrity art on 32-ounce plastic cups free to Taco Bell restaurant patrons when they order a large soft drink.

Here is a video of the television advertising for the Taco Bell Rock Art Cups campaign:

George Michael’s cup was based on the Listen Without Prejudice album cover with the title of the song ‘Praying for Time’ printed on the cup. The nearly 7″ cups also contained George’s signature.

Here are photos of George’s cup:

Taco Bell then donated 5 cents to the charities for every cup distributed. More than 18 million cups were made available through 3,300 outlets nationally, with Taco Bell guaranteeing the aggregate total sum to the charities.

There was also an auction of the original art work and additional memorabilia from the stars, with monies going to charity. The Rock Art Cups for Charity outreach benefited Starlight Foundation, Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy Foundation, TJ Martell Foundation and City of Hope in the first-ever.

M.C. Hammer’s cup was released first, followed by George Michael, Bell Biv DeVoe, Diana Ross, and Scorpions.

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• George Michael’s Acts of Charity
• ‘Too Funky:’ Story of A George Michael Charity Record
• List of Charities George Michael Supported
• George Michael’s Participation in the “Motown Returns to Apollo”
• George Michael in The Observer’s ‘Wealth, Hope and Charity’ (1994)