Russell Wilson is known for his philanthropic efforts, but he has found himself being called out this week.
An analysis of federal tax documents of his Why Not You Foundation shows only a fraction of the money it generates actually goes toward charitable efforts. That organization is among the reasons he was named the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year.
The discrepancy was first uncovered in a months-long investigation by USA TODAY, which dropped the damning report this week. The Why Not You Foundation was founded by Wilson and his wife, pop star Cierra, in 2014 with the goal of lifting people out of poverty through education.
Among the stated aims at the foundation’s website, “The foundation supports student access to equal education opportunities, children’s health and food security initiatives. Its mission is to equip today’s youth with the skills and opportunities to become tomorrow’s leaders.”
The Denver Broncos quarterback spoke out about the report when he directed everybody’s attention on Twitter to an article.
Via the report:
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“It is disheartening that a narrow account of our work has attempted to diminish the important impact the WNYF has made in the lives of so many youth and families,’’ Shayla Tait, executive director of Why Not You Foundation, told 9NEWS.
Tait said the report was misleading because one, many of Why Not You’s scheduled charity events were canceled because of the pandemic, and two, much of the funds raised by Russell and his wife Ciara for partners like Safeway Albertson was accounted for by the partners – Safeway sent the money Wilson’s group raised to Seattle’s Children Hospital while Why Not You was not credited on its 990 form.
In 2022, after Wilson was traded to the Broncos from the Seattle Seahawks.
His first year with the team was a complete disaster as he showed nothing on the field to give the reason why he deserved the huge contract extension he got from the team shortly after the trade.
The team has since fired head coach Nathaniel Hackett and traded for Sean Payton. Many changes are expected and the team should be much better, but they still have to prove it on the field.
