Hannity's "Freedom" concert is a money scam

[kpete]

Hannity's "Freedom" concert is a money scam
by davefromqueens
Mon Aug 06, 2007

After weaving through voluminous amounts of carefully crafted, parsed language and following up on the reporting of news hounds and a daily kos diarist it appears that Sean Hannity and Oliver North are using the name of dead American soldiers to garner profits for a right wing organization masquerading as a charity.

Sean Hannity claims that his concerts are "to benefit the freedom alliance scholarship fund for the children of America's Military heroes featuring Country Music Stars Montgomery Gentry, Leann Rimes, and Lee Greenwood." A closer looks at the facts tell a different story.


For example, the following is the Hannity promotion of the recent concert in San Diego

WHERE: COORS AMPHITHEATRE IN CHULA VISTA, CA.
2050 Entertainment Circle, Chula Vista, CA 91911
WHEN:Thursday - July 26, 2007 7:30 PM (Doors open at 5:30 PM)
TICKETS: Prices: $38.00 - $78.00 PURCHASE TICKETS »
The following fees are included in the above ticket prices: $4.75 facility fee, $4.25 parking fee, and a $4.00 donation to the Freedom Alliance


So if we were to assume that the average ticket price was $50 (we'll err on the conservative side) then the organizers of this event are skimming $37 a person off the top, not including other paraphenelia. Of course there may be some expenses involved but how much is each person being paid? It also means that 92% of all moneys being paid by concert goers is NOT going to the families of soldiers. Hannity claims that "100% of the profits" go to the families. Again, note the use of the word "profits." By the time Hannity and the Freedom Alliance have taken out money for "expenses" profits are few and far between.

..............

This is about Sean Hannity and his "friends" using the names of dead soldiers to make a profit for himself, a couple of his fellow musicians, and Oliver North's corporation/charity. It's truly disgusting.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2007/8/6/6165/93743

[AngryAmish]

1. Say it's not true!!!!

How can this be????

[Virginia Dare]

2. Any rube who buys a ticket to this concert deserves to be taken..n/t

[lynnertic]

3. The same thing happened accidentally with the Concert for Bangladesh

The concert itself raised $250K but the rest of the project (movie record etc) raised millions of dollars for Bangladesh. But, since nobody ever filed for nonprofit 501(c)(3) status, all of the money was tied up for years.

It was the concert for the IRS.

There's more info here
http://www.deadnotforgotten.com/blog/category/philanthropy/

[progressoid]

4. Good god.

Statement of Functional Expenses-2006 (certain examples on 990 Form page 2) The 990 Report is 30 pages long.

$14,503,615 Net assets or fund balances at end of year:
$306,500 Scholarship Grants
$ 97,400 Grants and Contributions
$1,414,215 Printing and publications
$641,411 Consultations
$242,042 Compensations of current officers
$604,310 Salaries and wages not included above
$1,703,232 Postage and Shipping
$246,232 Educational Outreach Consultant
$457,622 Other Expenses
$9,098,290 Scholarship Fund at end of year
$791,555 Temporarily Restricted Net assets

[Babsbrain]

5. Anybody else see this? Lowest Efficiency rating

http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/search.summary/orgid/6590.htm

Seems like this religious group raised 10 million last year and (surprise) expenses were 6.4 million.

Also, they refused to respond to the Better Busines Bureau re: information on their "charity"

http://charityreports.bbb.org/public/Report.aspx?CharityID=2860

[karlrschneider]

7. It's Ollie North's outfit...

:puke:

[Babsbrain]

9. Yes, I have a hard time separating the GOP and GOD

What I also find interesting is that military dependents ALREADY get an education if the military parent is killed or 100% disabled on active duty (if service-connected). Ollie should have known that before offering scholarships to those already getting them.

[Kuz478]

6. How republican of them.

Lying to make money off people who truly need it. Who would have thunk it.

[C_U_L8R]

8. It's very easy to ensure that there are no "profits"

Hannity knows that... poof gone.

It's in every Republican's DNA.

[HowHasItComeToThis]

10. INSANITY AND NORTH ARE JUST ACTORS FOR THE RIGHT WIND CRAZIES

NORTH SHOULD HAVE GONE TO PRISON YEARS AGO.

[KharmaTrain]

11. And You Forgot About The Vendor Money...

My bets are for every $50 someone forks out, they'll spend another $50 in food, beer and other knick-knacks. Having worked in radio, I know this is where a lot of money is made...by the vendors, the stations and the performers...all get a cut out of those profits (as well as taxes). Ya wonder why a beer is so much?

Now who is auditing these concerts? Is there any way to verify that ANY money actually is going to the families? Knowing the wingnuts, this "Freedom Alliance" is yet another money laundering 527...where most of that money goes to "operations" or "personal expenses"...and in the end the families get table scraps.

[benld74]

12. The WHOLE of the RNC is a money scam, if ya think about it

[UTUSN]

13. Kick in time for Shamity to see it near his air time n/t

[Canuckistanian]

14. BBB report on "Freedom Alliance"

Bolding mine.

Despite written BBB Wise Giving Alliance requests in the past year, this organization either has not responded to Alliance requests for information or has declined to be evaluated in relation to the Alliance’s Standards for Charity Accountability. While participation in the Alliance’s charity review efforts is voluntary, the Alliance believes that failure to participate may demonstrate a lack of commitment to transparency. Without the requested information, the Alliance cannot determine if these charities adhere to the Standards for Charity Accountability.

http://charityreports.bbb.org/public/Report.aspx?CharityID=2860