(Via KarenCivil.com)
Since the tragedy that is the Haiti earthquake happened, Wyclef Jean has been the most vocal celebrity in support of the battered country. For good reason, too. ‘Clef, a Haitian himself, has always spoke tirelessly in support of Haiti and how much attention needed to be given to a country who is statsically the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. Twitter users likely have seen the updates which broadcasted Wyclef’s charity organization, Yele. By texting “501501,” an additional five dollars would be charged to that person’s cell phone bill ultimately donating it to the relief fund.
The foundation has brought in hundreds of thousands of dollars and is expected to tally over $1M in its entirety. However, the foundation has had its flaws in the past. The Smoking Gun reports Yele Haiti Foundation has only has only filed tax returns for three years of its 12 year existence (2005, 2006 and 2007).
A $31,200 rent payment was also made in 2007 to Platinum Sound. The rent, tax returns assure, “is priced below market value.” The recording studio also was paid $100,000 in 2006 for the “musical performance services of Wyclef Jean at a benefit concert.” That six-figure payout, the tax return noted, “was substantially less than market value.” The return, of course, does not address why Jean needed to be paid to perform at his own charity’s fundraiser. But the largest 2006 payout–a whopping $250,000–went to Telemax, S.A., a for-profit Haiti company in which Jean and Duplessis were said to “own a controlling interest.”
The article and form(s) go on to explain other instances where there was suspicious movement of throughout the years for performances and appearances. Yet and still, this is not a plea to discontinue donating to Haiti during their time of need. If anything, it’s more of a call.
