TheLoop21.com

By: Alyssa Giachino and Annie Gldzhyan (Add to your loop)
Wed, 01/27/2010 - 10:14

Wyclef Jean's charity has been under a harsh spotlight lately.

Wyclef Jean has been on the defensive about his charitable foundation, Yele Haiti, after questions were raised about its transparency. The allegations are related to the organization’s failure to file tax returns and disclosures that Jean has billed the organization for his own performances, as reported by The Smoking Gun.


Jean has denied the allegations, and Yele may be guilty of nothing more serious than seriously lousy bookkeeping (and has just hired a new accountant, presumably to straighten things out), unfortunately for what looks like most of its 12 years in existence. In any case, Yele is in good company. Plenty of other nonprofits, including highly respected ones like the Red Cross, have had problems of their own.

Gawker.com suggests Yele may not be the best place for immediate relief efforts, although the organization may be in a good position to funnel the $1.5 million it has raised in the last two weeks toward longer-term rebuilding.

The nonprofit ranking site, Charity Navigator, has not evaluated Yele, and in light of all the publicity, blogged about why the organization hasn’t qualified.

The controversy over Yele is a reminder that in moments of disaster, if you want to make a donation to help out, you do a little bit of research to make sure your dollars go where they’ll make a difference. Guidestar.org has recommendations on how to select a charity, and a list of nonprofits working on the ground in Haiti’s relief efforts.

It’s also a reminder that, while the Haiti fundraising efforts -- in excess of $300 million -- are a sign of our best humanity in moments of crisis, there’s also a need for the grinding day-to-day work long after the cameras have turned their attention elsewhere.

Here’s a partial list of a few celebrities who have foundations working to alleviate poverty, hunger, disease in troubled parts of the world.

• NBA All-Star Dikembe Mutombo created the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation in Atlanta, GA in 1997. The Dikembe Mutombo Foundation is dedicated to improving the health, education and quality of life for the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The total revenue for the foundation is $4,227,657.

• In 2001, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges founded The Ludacris Foundation, a non-profit organization which inspires youth through education and memorable experiences to live their dreams by uplifting families, communities and fostering economic development. Since 2001, The Ludacris Foundation has donated $500,000 to support grassroots organizations that work to help our youth, as well as invested more than 2,500 hours in devoted service to young people across the nation.
   
• Alicia Keys' Keep a Child Alive Organization is dedicated to providing life-saving anti-retroviral treatment, care and support services to children and families whose lives have been affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and India by directly engaging the global public in the fight against AIDS. In 2008, the foundation generated $4,639,161 in revenues; 91 percent of that went toward program services.

• Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter and poet Jill Scott founded the Blues Babe Foundation for the purpose of nurturing college-bound students of color, ages 16-21, artistically and academically. In 2006, the Blues Babe Foundation donated over $100,000 to the Renovation of the Cecil B. Moore recreation center.
   
• Oprah Winfrey's Angel Network works around the globe to give people the chance to live their best lives. To date, Oprah’s Angel Network has received more than $80 million in donations. The annual revenue for the organization is $12,738,633.

• Earvin “Magic” Johnson founded the Magic Johnson Foundation in 1991, which is a non-profit organization working to develop programs and support community-based organizations that address the educational, health and social needs of ethnically diverse, urban communities. The total revenue for the foundation is $1,489,455. h

• The Tyra Banks TZONE Foundation was founded in 1999 with the mission to build a sisterhood movement among women and girls by raising funds and making grants to community-based nonprofits that serve low-income, disadvantaged girls.
   
• The Barefoot Foundation is a U.S. non-profit, non-governmental organization created by internationally acclaimed recording artist and humanitarian Shakira. The Colombian partner, the Pies Descalzos Foundation, is a Colombian non-profit, non-governmental organization devoted to ensure that every Colombian child can exercise their right to a quality education.

• Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie established the Jolie-Pitt Foundation in 2006 to assist with humanitarian crises around the world. To launch the foundation, the pair made donations of $1 million to Doctors Without Borders and Global Action for Children. In 2008 the couple donated $6 million through their charity.

• Bill Cosby founded the Hello Friend/Ennis William Cosby Foundation to fulfill the goals and dreams of Cosby’s son, Ennis, who was murdered in 1997. The Foundation equips teachers, parents and students with the practical information and educational tools needed to understand and address the needs of all learners before they experience the corrosive effects of frustration and failure.

Alyssa Giachino is an economics writer for TheLoop21.com. She has worked as a reporter in New York, New Jersey, Mexico City and California covering stories on labor, the environment, immigration and politics.

Annie Gldzhyan is a student at Caifornia State University, Northridge and the editorial assistant at TheLoop21.com. 

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