PHOENIX — A day after the Arizona Republic published a report questioning the charitable giving and overall operation of Russell Wilson’s foundation, the executive director of his Why Not You Foundation fired back in defense of the NFL’s 2020 Walter Payton Man of the Year.
“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.
The Arizona Republic story, picked up and redistributed by USA Today and Yahoo, investigated the nonprofit organizations set up by 23 of the past 26 Walter Payton Man of the Year award winners, which led them to zero in on Wilson’s organization that, according to federal 990 tax forms, showed just 24.3 cents of every dollar raised went to the charities during the combined COVID years of 2020 and 2021.
Tait said the report was misleading because one, many of Why Not You’s scheduled charity events were cancelled because of the pandemic and two, much of the funds raised by Russell and his wife Ciara for partners like Safeway Albertsons 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.
Had Wilson’s group insisted on getting credit on the 990 form, the amount that went to the charities would have been more than 70 cents of every dollar, Tait said.
“Like many charitable organizations, a significant amount of our philanthropic impact is not reflected on our 990 form, including more than $10 million raised in collaboration with our partners, who granted these funds directly to nonprofit organizations serving immediate needs,’’ Tait said. “Russell, Ciara and the WNYF have always cared more about impact than credit. Our teamwork approach has proven successful, especially in critical times. Thank you to our partners—most notably Seattle Children’s Hospital and Safeway Albertsons—along with so many others who work to make a positive and measurable difference.
“Over the last eight years, the Why Not You Foundation has helped raised more than $13 million to fight pediatric cancer, eliminate food insecurity and provide education for children in underserved communities.’’
A sidebar report by the Arizona Republic revealed the charitable foundations set up by three other Walter Payton Man of the Year winners – Andrew Whitworth, Charles “Peanut” Tillman and Anquan Boldin – also showed tax forms where far more was spent on salaries and expenditures than the charities. Whitworth’s group showed 35.3 cents of every dollar going to charity, Tillman’s group had 26 cents of every dollar spent on charities and Boldin’s foundation directed 25.5 cents of every dollar.
The report also questioned the salaries of Why Not You executives and the improper classification of its staff. Tate did acknowledge the WNY foundation would take steps to be in compliance with industry rules.
“The Why Not You Foundation will continue to evolve with charitable best practices as we further our mission to positively impact communities all over the world,’’ Tait said.
Dalton Risner, the Broncos’ Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee this year, said during the NFL Honors red carpet ceremony Thursday that no one should doubt his teammate Russell Wilson is anything but 100 percent committed to those who benefit from his foundation.
“I’ve seen the heart that he has,’’ Risner said. “I have so much respect for that guy. Russell Wilson gives a lot to people not only money and donations but his time and his kindness.’’
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