Scandal alert! Sting's Rainforest Foundation benefit concert only benefits Sting's pockets
Remember Sting's big concert from back in 2006 that was supposedly to help raise money to save the rainforests? Well, the concert certainly raised money, but the several million dollar profit made was not given to charity as it should have been.Charity watchdogs did a review and less than half of the money from that concert ended up going to rainforest saving charities. I can't believe it, and I have to admit that as a Sting fan, I'm in disbelief.
Also being put in the hot seat is Sting's rainforest charity, The Rainforest Foundation. Located in N.Y.C. the charity hangs on to millions of dollars a year, while most charities only keep money needed to cover overhead expenses. Sting's charity kept $5 million dollars in cash. That sounds highly unnecessary and extremely suspicious to me. The charity watchdogs have given the organization an extremely low rating.
What do you think, is there something fishy going on or can Sting explain this all away? And even if it's people underneath him actually running the charity who are the ones involved in shady business, since he gave his celebrity stamp of approval and is the face of the organization, should he be held responsible?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-06-2008 @ 9:22PM
Jen on the Edge said...
This sort of rumor has been dogging the Rainforest Foundation for years. I believe there were suspicions of financial shenanigans at least ten years ago.
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5-06-2008 @ 10:05PM
kylehepp said...
Good use of shenanigans Jen, that's one of my favorite words :)
I guess I was too little to hear about any scandal 10 years ago, but I guess I can't say that I'm surprised to hear that.
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5-06-2008 @ 11:43PM
Rob Daly said...
As a former fundraiser with the Rainforest Foundation UK, I was privy to the workings of Stings fundraising machine, the Rainforest Fund and totally agree with your article about Sting hoarding money raised to protect the rainforest. A critical point to make is that the money from the concert is put into the Rainforest Fund, not directly to the Rainforest Foundation UK or Norway, which are independent charities. The Rainforest Fund acts as a private play fund for Sting and close family friends to direct to whatever rainforest related charity takes their whim. The similarity between the organisations is only in the name and that is where it stops. The Rainforest Foundation UK and Norway are independent from the Rainforest Fund and have been campaigning successfully on behalf of forest peoples around the world for over 15 years. Their funding comes from many sources, including government, foundations, individuals, and as grant recipients from the Rainforest Foundation Fund. The fact that the Rainforest Foundation UK and Norway receive grants from their respective governments is testament to their genuine success at protecting the rights of forest peoples and their land, as well as recognising their transparency and adherence to strict governance controls that, for example, avoid the hoarding of vast amounts of money as practiced by the Rainforest Fund. Over the 6 years I was with the Rainforest Foundation UK, I was proud to be associated with the passionate people who worked there, and our partners who risked their lives in conflict prone areas such as Democratic Republic of Congo. During that time I was shocked at the way Sting and the Rainforest Fund would raise US$ millions in our name and sat on the money while our partners in rainforest countries struggled day by day to makes ends meet.
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5-07-2008 @ 9:30AM
Thanh T. said...
True or false, the business of show business is “show business”…
It is very sad to read about the “Scandal alert! Sting's Rainforest Foundation benefit concert only benefits Sting's pockets.” (management and unethical business practices…)
A person is often known and sometimes judged by the company he keeps.
It makes me disappointed. “The cold charities of man to man” George Crabbe (English poet, 1754-1832)
Perhaps, a person’s true character defines his destiny.
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