The
Josephson Fundraising
POWERHOUSE Natalie Anglesey chats with Michael Josephson about his turbulent childhood and, more recently and importantly, his astounding charitable fundraising events.
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ou may have read the lurid headlines: ‘Man jumps off bridge and survives’, and paused for a second to contemplate how lucky you are. But I’ve met the man behind those headlines, and Michael Josephson’s story is a powerful one. It’s the true story of a small boy who overcame adverse circumstances to become a multimillionaire, honoured by Her Majesty the Queen, in 2016, with an MBE. “I remember thinking during the ceremony that my mother would have been proud,” Michael admits. “It all started with a long affiliation with Childline and the NSPCC. As Chairman of the North West Childline Ball committee in Manchester, along with my team I undertook extensive fundraising for those good causes. “The 2017 annual Childline Ball – attended by Dame Esther Rantzen, a range of celebrities and many of Manchester’s leading companies – was held at the Hilton Hotel in Manchester, and raised £210,000 on that one night. I’d been awarded the title of Divisional Vice-President of NSPCC and been given the Childline Patron Award by HRH The Countess of Wessex. But when I was awarded the MBE, for raising over
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I was awarded the MBE for raising over £3.4 Million over the previous ten years £3.4 million over the previous ten years, it was a huge honour to be given it in person by Her Majesty the Queen, for services to charity.” Michael’s own childhood was an unhappy one, as he was constantly bullied at school. His memories are obviously painful and he took some time to open up. “I can’t remember
