Charity

The Wall Street Journal has an article this weekend mapping out the top 35 charity foundations of professional athletes. The top 4 is pretty standard; Tiger Woods Foundation (Health and Education), Lance Armstrong Foundation (Cancer), Andre Agassi Foundation (education), and Mutombo Foundation (Hospitals in the Congo). But some of these other ones are pretty humorous.

Billy Andrade-Brad Faxon Charities- Raised $3 million through celebrity golf tournaments for the Red Cross. Um...what type of pull do these two have in Hollywood to get celebs out on the course?
Brian Griese's Judi's House- $1.2 million raised for kids who lose a parent. Nice cause, but can we get a new sponsor? He isn't even a starting QB anymore.
Jamie Moyer's Moyer Foundation- Yes that is right. The Moyer's Moyer foundation. He had a huge celeb bowling tournament that raised $318K.
Eddie Kennison's Quick Start Foundation- He's on their asses
Dirk Nowitzki Foundation- No money was donated by Dirk last year, but he promises some money this year. Way to take your own Foundation serious Dirk.
Kristi Yamagucki Always Dream Foundation- How is she still making money? Beauty and the Beast on Ice?
Amani Toomer Foundation- Only gave away $392 dollars in 2005. Who is worse, Amani or Dirk?
Mike Hampton Pitching Foundation: Supports Little League Pitchers. Umm...what is this? Does he buy them comic books when they are on the 60 Day DL?
Serfei Federov Foundation- Actually lost money in 2005 because expenses exceeding donations. The reason...Legal Fees. Legal Fees? I'm speechless.
Steve Nash Foundation- Supports youth Canadian Basketball Leagues and the environment. How does this go hand and hand?

All in all, more athletes are staying out of the creating a foundation because of the scrutiny and expenses. ARod, Gary Payton, and Zito all donate a ton of money, but they refuse to create their own foundation. They talk about how Hines Ward is actively involved in helping out mixed Korean kids directly without the use of a foundation. He states that Korean mixed kids are treated very poorly and he feels that he has to do something about it. Way to pick such a worthy cause.