Jim Jackson

(1941 - )

Jim and his wife, AnnaMarie, grew up in the same town in Idaho, moving to Colorado in 1964. Initially Jim was involved with selling real estate in the ski areas during the advent of the ski industry in the Colorado Rockies. They moved to Evergreen in 1971.

He earned a reputation for a common-sense approach in building a successful, multi-faceted career as a businessman and for combining that attribute with his love for humanity in sharing his wealth with those less fortunate throughout the world.

As a young boy, he sat fascinated as his mother read stories about America's golden boys of business who did well so that they could do good in their lives.  At a young age, Jackson determined that he would be a millionaire by the time he was 25.  By the time he was 30, he had exceeded that goal several times over but he realized that he was not happy with wealth.  Together with his wife, he decided to give away their wealth to help others.  They started over.

His background is that of an economist. Beyond a career in the real estate, entertainment and petroleum industries, his résumé includes ownership and/or leadership positions with Jackson brothers Investments, Inc., Brotherhood Brokerage, Stylist Records, and Great Western 75 Company. He spent many years as president of International Market Exchange, Inc., serving as economic consultant to various governments and private businesses, as well as the director of Imports and Exports in Asia, Africa, South America and Great Britain. He was president of Denver Auto Mart, Inc. He served as Executive Producer of the highly successful Saturday Nights in Denver and "A Reason to Sing" television series in the Denver market in the late 1970s and early '80s.

He enjoyed singing with small groups.

In 1987 while traveling in Brazil, he was inspired to start Project C.U.R.E., which has become the world's largest handler of donated medical goods to other countries.

With the assistance of friends in the medical industry, he collected more than $250,000 worth of medical supplies in his garage in 30 days.  He personally paid the shipping expenses and sent off his first ocean-going cargo container to Brazil.  The dissolution of the USSR in 1991 opened the floodgates of opportunity in third-world nations.  Since then, Project C.U.R.E. has shipped more than 1 billion dollars' worth of supplies to 128 countries around the world.

The organization (in its 25th year as of this writing) employs only 15 paid staff and utilizes more than 15,000 volunteers in the US, keeping overhead below 2 percent.

Project C.U.R.E. maintains large distribution warehouses in Arizona, Colorado, Texas, Tennessee, Chicago, and Philadelphia with 11 smaller collection centers in other cities where donated items are gathered and then delivered to the distribution warehouses.

Dr. Jackson has served for more than 20 years as President of the Council of Family Finance and presently serves as president of Benevolent Brotherhood Foundation.  He's also served on the Project C.U.R.E. board since its inception.

He has written three books:  a book on economics titled What'cha Gonna Do with What'cha Got (1982), winner of the prestigious Gold Medallion Book Award in 1989; The Happiest Man in the World:  Life Lessons from a Cultural Economist; and Love and Common Sense (2012), a collection of short stories woven around Project C.U.R.E.

He has travelled to more than 150 countries.  In 1993 he represented the USA at the 81st Birthday celebration of Great Leader Kim Il Sung in Pyongyang, North Korea, and has returned to that country 8 times.  He has served as guest lecturer at universities around the world and presented to the House of Lords in London, England, in 1999.

The list of his awards is enormous:

• US Department of State’s highly coveted Florence Nightingale Humanitarian Award (2004)
• International Man of the Year Award (1992)
• Savvy Award (1998)
• crowned as a Royal African Chief in Nigeria (2001)
• he and his wife, Dr. AnnaMarie Jackson, received the Colorado Parents of the Year Award (2005)
• as a followup, President George Bush presented Jim and AnnaMarie the National Parents of the Year Award (2005)
• 9 Who Care Award (1998)
• Gold Medallion Book Award (1989) for his book What'cha Gonna Do with What'cha Got
• 2000 His Royal Highness, King Eze A. N. Onyeka, Obi IV (Nigeria) of Nkume crowned Dr. Jackson as Royal Chief of Africa with the official name Chief Uzoma of Nkume People
• Colorado Ethics in Business Award 2005
• Governor's Colorado Cares Service Award: Centennial Award for Lifetime Contribution to Service in Colorado (2005)
• American Red Cross Healthcare Lifetime Achievement Award for his efforts in saving lives around the world (2005)
• two distinctive awards from the Catholic community: The Saint Francis of Assisi Award from Legatus, Denver Chapter, and the Jeanne Jugan Award from Little Sisters of the Poor
• in 2008 (shared with his son, Dr. W. Douglas Jackson, president and CEO of Project C.U.R.E.) the Global Health Award for their joint efforts in outstanding contributions to healthcare around the world
• in 2009, the Civis Princepts Award, or First Citizen, from Regis University (shared with his son) recognizing their work in and service to the community.  It is the highest honor by Regis University.
• International Service Award (2001)
• recorded 15 albums, receiving the “Four Star” rating from Billboard Magazine and a pre-nomination for the coveted Grammy Award
• Who's Who in Business
• Honorary Brotherhood of St. Andrew
• Men of Achievement Award (1987)
• Distinguished Leadership Award for Extraordinary Service in Finance and Economics (1987)
• Minuoru Yasui Community Volunteer Award recognizing unsung heroes in the metro Denver area (1998)
• JC Penney Golden Rule Award (1999)