Former NFL quarterback Brett Favre’s charity, Favre 4 Hope, donated greater than $130,000 to the College of Southern Mississippi Athletic Basis from 2018 to 2020, in keeping with tax data obtained by ESPN.
Throughout this identical interval, Favre was making an attempt to lift cash for a brand new volleyball stadium on the college, the place he performed soccer and his daughter was on the volleyball staff. Funds for that stadium are below scrutiny in the biggest public fraud case in Mississippi state historical past.
Favre 4 Hope, whose mission assertion says it gives assist “for deprived and disabled kids and breast most cancers sufferers,” receives public donations. Tax data present that in 2018, the inspiration gave the USM Athletic Basis $60,000. Each different group acquired $10,000. In 2019, the USM Athletic Basis acquired $46,817. The subsequent highest donation, to the Particular Olympics of Mississippi, was $11,000. The subsequent 12 months, Favre 4 Hope donated $26,175 to the USM Athletic Basis whereas no different group acquired greater than $10,000.
Between 2011 and 2017, the 12 months his daughter enrolled at USM, Favre 4 Hope gave the Athletic Basis a mixed $47,900. (Tax data weren’t accessible for 2016.) In 2015, when Favre’s daughter performed volleyball at Oak Grove Excessive College, his basis gave the varsity’s booster membership $60,000, tax data present. In 2013, the booster membership acquired $10,000 from Favre 4 Hope.
“He has been very beneficiant to Southern Miss since he performed ball there,” Favre’s legal professional Bud Holmes informed ESPN on Wednesday night. “These explicit issues [the donations in question] I do not know, however I do know he has at all times given again, one thing most athletes do not do.”
The Athletic first reported the donations made by Favre’s charity to the College of Southern Mississippi Athletic Basis.
Favre, a member of the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame, is concerned in a sprawling investigation into Mississippi’s welfare spending. He acquired $1.1 million in talking charges for appearances he allegedly by no means made, in keeping with a state auditor. He mentioned he didn’t know the place the funds got here from and paid the cash again, although the state is nonetheless looking for $228,000 in curiosity. Textual content messages present Favre was additionally concerned in diverting no less than $5 million in welfare funds to the volleyball stadium.
Favre has not been criminally charged. His legal professional beforehand denied to Mississippi At this time that the Corridor of Famer knew he acquired welfare funds.