Figure 1.--Here Jackie reached New York City in his Near East Reief Fund drive. The caption read, "Little Jackie Coogan, with Lieutenant Govenor Lunn and Earl Carroll, is greeted enthusiastically in Times Square, New York, as he tells his friends about his mission to the Near East."

Jackie Coogan used his fame for philanthropic causes, perhaps the first Hollywood star to do so. Jackie took up the cause of the Armenian, Greek, and others war orphans in the Near East--Near East Relief Fund (NERF). The Turks carries out the terrible Armenian Genocide under cover of World War I. After the War, a war between Turkey and Greece created more refugees. Jackie promoted the Near East Relief. We are not sure whose idea this was. Perhaps the studio suggested it. Or perhaps NERF contacted Jackie, given that he was noted for playing orphan waifs so this was his way of helping real orphans. He toured throughout the United States and Europe in on a 'Children's Crusade' to raise funds. Coogan also met many mayors and was given the keys to many cities. He He was received with much pagentry in the various cities he visited. A Detroit source reports, "Child star Jackie Coogan came to Detroit in 1926 in support of Near East Relief. He got to ride a carriage driven by Sheba the Elephant. He also got to hug Mayor John C. Lodge." Jackie managed to rause some $1 million in clothing, food, and other supplies. This of course would be much nore in modern dollars. Jackie was honored by officials in America, Greece, and Rome as well as representatives of the Armenian people. He was received by the Pope in Rome abd honored by the League of Nations.

Created: 2:14 AM 2/22/2013
Last updated: 2:14 AM 2/22/2013