Love…FREE HUGS

A charismatic personality well-known around the world after becoming a pop culture icon in recent years, Juan Mann first came to the attention of global audiences in September of 2006 when the groundbreaking “Free Hugs” video was uploaded to the internet and featured on the front-page of YouTube.com, the emotionally-moving clip has since garnished more than 70 million views worldwide.

The Free Hugs Campaign, a social movement involving random acts of kindness in the form of individuals offering hugs to strangers in public places, was started by Mann on June 30, 2004. Mann carried the now iconic “FREE HUGS” sign from the outset of the campaign and even today can still be found in Sydney’s Pitt St. Mall offering Free Hugs most Thursdays.

After being met with international fame as a result of the YouTube video’s success, through 2006 and 2007 Mann made appearances on Oprah, Jay Leno, 60 Minutes and CNN among other shows worldwide including a feature interview on ABC Australia’s “Enough Rope with Andrew Denton”. Mention of Mann’s story also spread through nearly every most major print media publication and radio show globally with the Free Hugs Campaign now seeing hundreds of people giving hugs throughout the world, with “Free Hug Days” being held in France, China, England and across the U.S.

During 2008, Mann has been hitting headlines again in world news after it became public knowledge that his next act of kindness involves donating one of his kidneys to a stranger, in Mann’s words “Whoever is a match and needs my kidney the most will receive it through Australia’s organ waiting list,”

News of Mann’s decision to donate was first released through a feature article in the Sydney Morning Herald on September 21, 2008, followed by a spot on Channel Nine’s ‘TODAY’ show and a radio interview on ABC’s Afternoon Show by Glynn Greensmith. The week following saw the AFP syndicate the story of Mann’s decision, once again spreading his message of kindness and compassion for others through major electronic and print media globally.

Mann has since earned himself an independent production deal and is in the shooting stages of what is to become a feature length documentary about donation, Mann hopes that the documentary can go on to spread global awareness about organ donation process and the desperate need for more donors in all countries.

LIVE in the moment…

LOVE like there’s no tomorrow…

LAUGH out loud…

Tweet