Some Athlete Charities Have Sizzle and No Substance
by Alison Brown
Causeway, a program created by Athletes for Hope, educates athletes on how to turn their passions into charitable action. Graphic courtesy of Athletes for Hope.
Professional athletes, especially NFL, NBA, and MLB players, have a huge financial incentive to start non-profit foundations. Tax breaks on those monster contracts! As Athletes for Hope CEO Jason Belinkie explained, starting a foundation is not always the best way an athlete can address the causes they care about. Managing a non-profit is no easy task and, in the United States, charities are covered by a myriad of laws and tax regulations. Sadly, many of these athlete-led charities have fallen prey to financial mismanagement, malfeasance, and downright lawbreaking. We are happy to say only one of these is connected to an Olympian.
Favre 4 Hope (Brett Favre)
NFL quarterback Brett Favre started his organization to support underserved and disabled children, and breast cancer patients. However, the charity spent its money elsewhere. Over $130,000 went to the athletic department of Favre’s alma mater, the University of Southern MIssissippi, between 2018 and 2020. Favre is also accused of using the foundation to redirect state welfare funds meant to help low-income families toward a new volleyball stadium at the school where his daughter played.
Cathy’s Kids (Lamar Odom)
NBA player and former Kardashian spouse Lamar Odom started Cathy’s Kids in honor of his mother who had died of stomach cancer. The charity claimed to fund cancer research and support underprivileged children. Only problem? Between its founding in 2004 and an investigation in 2013, Cathy’s Kids did not spend a dollar towards cancer research and sent most of its money to two elite youth basketball teams, which definitely did not serve low-income kids. In 2010, over half the money raised went to pay the charity’s board secretary.
A-Rod Family Foundation (Alex Rodriguez)
Alex Rodriguez should have spent more time looking at the financials of his family foundation.
We should have known this foundation was destined for trouble because baseball star Alex Rodriguez started the organization to counter the bad publicity he faced when he was exposed as a member of an underground poke club. In 2006, the foundation raised more than $400,000 but managed to distribute only $5000. The recipients of this largesse? The Jay-Z Shawn Carter Scholarship Fund, run by A-Rod’s buddy rapper Jay-Z, that has scandals of its own. Oh and a Little League Baseball team received a whopping $90. The foundation lost its tax-exempt status in 2007 for violating IRS rules for charities.
Why Not You Foundation (Russell Wilson)
You think NFL player salaries are out of sight? So were the salaries paid to executives of Wilson’s charity. The NFL star and his singer-wife Ciara claimed to fund expanding educational access, improving food security, and supporting children’s health. But less than 25¢ of every dollar raised went to these causes since 2020. Of the $7.5 million of revenue, $7 million went to the foundation’s expenses, particularly salaries for two executives.
Livestrong (Lance Armstrong)
Before cyclist Lance Armstrong became the face of doping, he started Livestrong. Livestrong sold those ubiquitous yellow wristbands to fund cancer research, raise cancer awareness, and provide services to cancer patients. Armstrong survived stage III testicular cancer in 1996. (We covered some of Armstrong’s story in this episode.)
Livestrong bracelet, image courtesy of wristband.com
But in 2012, Armstrong confessed to a widespread and long-standing doping program. Armstrong resigned from the Livestrong board and the organization removed his name or any connection to Armstrong. The charity was never accused of any connection to Armstrong’s doping or his general awfulness. Nonetheless, donations collapsed. Livestrong lived up to its name, however, and is still in business.
Who Can You Trust?
How can you be sure your donations are spent on the causes you care about? First and foremost, do not be dazzled by the celebrity associated with a charity. Do your research! This article from ProPublica provides an excellent starting point. Charity Navigator and give.org have trustworthy information and easy-to-use search engines to find what you need.
Are there any charities started by Olympic athletes that you should check out? First, take a look at Athletes for Hope. They offer plenty of ways to donate and get involved. Here are a few, but do your own homework before donating anywhere!
- The Usain Bolt Foundation: education and cultural development for children in Jamaica.
- The Michael Phelps Foundation: water safety, healthy living, and the pursuit of dreams for children and young adults
- The Dame Kelly Holmes Trust: young people facing disadvantage by using sport to transform their lives
- The Eliud Kipchoge Foundation: young athletes in Kenya with training, education, and personal development
- The Rafael Nadal Foundation: disadvantaged children through education and sports