Editing Harry Chapin (section)

==Philanthropic work==
Chapin resolved to leave his imprint on Long Island. He envisioned a Long Island where the arts flourished, universities expanded, and humane discourse was the norm. "He thought Long Island represented a remarkable opportunity", said Chapin's widow, Sandy.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=More than a Troubadour|journal=Newsday|url=http://www.newsday.com/community/guide/lihistory/ny-history-hs9chap,0,6013734.story|access-date=January 18, 2008|first=Fred|last=Bruning|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415204306/http://www.newsday.com/community/guide/lihistory/ny-history-hs9chap,0,6013734.story|archive-date=April 15, 2008|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In the mid-1970s, Chapin devoted much time and effort to social activism, including raising money to combat hunger in the United States. His daughter Jen said: "He saw hunger and poverty as an insult to America.<ref name="jeninterview">{{cite news |last1=Morse |first1=Steve |title=Jen Chapin shares her dad's idealism – but not his voice |url=http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2004/02/20/jen_chapin_shares_her_dads_idealism____but_not_his_voice/ |url-status=dead |newspaper=[[The Boston Globe]] |date=20 February 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205071319/http://www.boston.com/ae/music/articles/2004/02/20/jen_chapin_shares_her_dads_idealism____but_not_his_voice/ |archive-date=5 December 2008}}</ref> He co-founded the organization [[World Hunger Year]] with radio personality [[Bill Ayres]], before returning to music with ''[[On the Road to Kingdom Come]]''. He also released a book of poetry, ''Looking ... Seeing'', in 1975. More than half of Chapin's concerts were benefit performances (for example, a concert<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cinematreasures.org/theater/54/comments |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611094553/http://cinematreasures.org/theater/54/ |archive-date=June 11, 2009 |title=Text of 1977 review of Chapin concert at Landmark Theatre |website=[[Cinema Treasures]] |access-date=October 21, 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref> to help save the [[Landmark Theatre (Syracuse, New York)|Landmark Theatre]] in [[Syracuse, New York]], as well as hunger causes such as food banks), and proceeds from his concert merchandise were used to support World Hunger Year. Among those he helped is filmmaker [[Michael Moore]], who, in 1977, got help funding his Mid-Michigan based independent newspaper startup, ''The Flint Voice'', with Chapin benefit concerts.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/icVAfCMpets Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20130507230413/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icVAfCMpets&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web|title=The Story of How Harry Chapin Helped Michael Moore Start 'The Flint Voice' in 1977 (10/21/11)| date=22 October 2011 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icVAfCMpets&t=230|publisher=[[YouTube]]|language=en|access-date=2019-12-31}}{{cbignore}}</ref> 

On October 15, 1977, a one-time benefit concert called  '''Four Together - Concert for World Hunger''' and featuring Chapin and three other renowned folk and country rock singer-songwriters -- [[Gordon Lightfoot]], [[James Taylor]] and [[John Denver]] -- was performed at the [[Detroit Olympia|Olympia Stadium]] in Detroit, Mich. The performance -- which lasted nearly three hours -- was played live on [[CKLW]] AM 800, and raised money to combat world hunger.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/98959161/?clipping_id=16965054&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjk4OTU5MTYxLCJpYXQiOjE2NjYyMDMyODEsImV4cCI6MTY2NjI4OTY4MX0.1cLTdq-90Yf-KbTAtk3riTw0DEIFhESp7M75gpi-_a4 |title=Four Stars Shine in Benefit |author=Jim Dolan|work=Detroit Free Press |date= October 18, 1977 |access-date=October 21, 2011}}</ref>  

Chapin's social causes at times caused friction among his band members. Chapin donated an estimated third of his paid concerts to charitable causes, often performing alone with his guitar to reduce costs.

One report quotes Chapin's widow saying soon after his death – "only with slight exaggeration" – that "Harry was supporting 17 relatives, 14 associations, seven foundations, and 82 charities. Harry wasn't interested in saving money. He always said, 'Money is for people,' so he gave it away." Despite his success as a musician, he left little money and it was difficult to maintain the causes for which he raised more than $3 million in the last six years of his life.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Diliberto |first=Gioia |title=Harry Chapin's Family Fights to Carry on His Extraordinary Legacy of Compassion |url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20081662,00.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411150930/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20081662,00.html |archive-date=April 11, 2013 |url-status=dead |access-date=June 16, 2022 |magazine=[[People (magazine)|People]] |date=15 March 1982}}</ref> The Harry Chapin Foundation was the result.