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.
   

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