Hannity's "Freedom" concert is a money scam
inmytree
Posts: 4,741
yeah, I know the dailykos is a left wing radical site, but if this true...Sean "the Great American" Hannity has some explaining to do....
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/8/6/6165/93743
Hannity's "Freedom" concert is a money scam
by davefromqueens
Mon Aug 06, 2007 at 04:29:15 AM PDT
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.
* davefromqueens's diary :: ::
*
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.
Now I'm being very tricky because you are probably saying to yourself that the piker Hannity only gives 8% of concert receipts to the families of soldiers. And you would be wrong. The number is less than 1% as you'll see later on.
Notice that the $4.00 donation goes to the Freedom Alliance NOT the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund.
Now you probably want to know what the Freedom Alliance is? (Hint: Think traitor, liar, and convicted felon.)
Freedom Alliance, an educational and charitable foundation, was founded in 1990 by LtCol Oliver L. North, who now serves as the organization's honorary chairman.
And is this group about helping military families or is it an ultra right wing political group?
While there has been a liberal domination of the institutions of the federal government, the media and college campuses, Freedom Alliance has worked diligently to educate concerned citizens across the nation to the dangers of a growing federal government and an expansion of international institutions whose policies and influence adversely impact U.S. policy. From the loss of American sovereignty to government restraints on individual liberty to the defense of our men and women in uniform, Freedom Alliance has been, and remains, at the forefront of the most important issues of our time. Public policy and education are only a part of the mission of Freedom Alliance.
A very small part of their organization is about the scholarship fund.
As the troops returned home from the Middle East, the work of Freedom Alliance continued. Four programs were instituted in the years that followed to assist the troops and their families. Freedom Alliance established the HEROES Scholarship Program to provide college scholarships to the children of soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who were killed during Operations Desert Shield or Desert Storm. This program continues today under the name, the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund. Through these two programs, Freedom Alliance has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships and helped hundreds of children of American military heroes achieve the dream of a college education.
And a fellow diarist came up with these numbers from a report he gained access to.
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
So basically the group began the year with 14.5 million, spent $306,500 on scholarship grants (no guarantee they go to a worthy applicant, they go directly to the college which may or may not use it that way.) and ONLY $97,400 went directly to military families. And where's the rest of the money? So the Freedom Alliance at best gave anywhere from 2% to 8% of its expense money to children of military personnel who died in service. Using the high number, 8% of 8% is less than 1%. So there it is, LESS THAN 1% of the money from Sean Hannity's Scam Concert goes to helping the children of military families yet Hannity bills it as a concert to help these families.
The following are listed on the sites web page as staff of the "Freedom Alliance"
Thomas Kilgannon, President
Pepper Ailor, Program Officer
Helen Alford, Development Assistant
Catherine Charles, Programs Coordinator
Calvin Coolidge, Director of Programs
Jamie Critchfield, Staff Assistant
Janet Fallon, Event Coordinator
Marsha Fishbaugh, Administrative Assistant
Greg Foster, Researcher
Laurie Mooney, Development Officer, Foundations
Debbie Nicolette-Clark, Regional Development Officer
Jennifer Ohman, Director of Media and Public Affairs
Paul Olivett, Major Gifts Officer
Jennifer Pusatere, Director of Development
Kathy Rothschild, Development Officer
Shannon Sullivan, Development Officer, Events
Kelly Travis, Staff Assistant
Dee Wilgenbusch, Chief Operating Officer
Kilgannon made over $150,000 last year from the group. How much are the others being paid? Now look at the list of expenses again. 1.4 million for Printing and Publications? Who is getting that money? What about the $641,111 for "consultations" Is Hannity someone who was being consulted? Any of his minions? Then there's the $604,310 allegedly for salaries and wages not included above? Who is getting that money? What about the $457,622 for "other expenses." Is Hannity getting any of that?
There is absolutely nothing wrong, in and of itself, with any person, regardless of political philosophy, raising money for children who lost a parent at war. I will put aside the cruel ironies of how Hannity's policies in actions led to these deaths or how Republicans gut programs designed to help these children. (e.g. cutting scholarships and student loans)
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/story/2007/8/6/6165/93743
Hannity's "Freedom" concert is a money scam
by davefromqueens
Mon Aug 06, 2007 at 04:29:15 AM PDT
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.
* davefromqueens's diary :: ::
*
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.
Now I'm being very tricky because you are probably saying to yourself that the piker Hannity only gives 8% of concert receipts to the families of soldiers. And you would be wrong. The number is less than 1% as you'll see later on.
Notice that the $4.00 donation goes to the Freedom Alliance NOT the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund.
Now you probably want to know what the Freedom Alliance is? (Hint: Think traitor, liar, and convicted felon.)
Freedom Alliance, an educational and charitable foundation, was founded in 1990 by LtCol Oliver L. North, who now serves as the organization's honorary chairman.
And is this group about helping military families or is it an ultra right wing political group?
While there has been a liberal domination of the institutions of the federal government, the media and college campuses, Freedom Alliance has worked diligently to educate concerned citizens across the nation to the dangers of a growing federal government and an expansion of international institutions whose policies and influence adversely impact U.S. policy. From the loss of American sovereignty to government restraints on individual liberty to the defense of our men and women in uniform, Freedom Alliance has been, and remains, at the forefront of the most important issues of our time. Public policy and education are only a part of the mission of Freedom Alliance.
A very small part of their organization is about the scholarship fund.
As the troops returned home from the Middle East, the work of Freedom Alliance continued. Four programs were instituted in the years that followed to assist the troops and their families. Freedom Alliance established the HEROES Scholarship Program to provide college scholarships to the children of soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who were killed during Operations Desert Shield or Desert Storm. This program continues today under the name, the Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund. Through these two programs, Freedom Alliance has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships and helped hundreds of children of American military heroes achieve the dream of a college education.
And a fellow diarist came up with these numbers from a report he gained access to.
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
So basically the group began the year with 14.5 million, spent $306,500 on scholarship grants (no guarantee they go to a worthy applicant, they go directly to the college which may or may not use it that way.) and ONLY $97,400 went directly to military families. And where's the rest of the money? So the Freedom Alliance at best gave anywhere from 2% to 8% of its expense money to children of military personnel who died in service. Using the high number, 8% of 8% is less than 1%. So there it is, LESS THAN 1% of the money from Sean Hannity's Scam Concert goes to helping the children of military families yet Hannity bills it as a concert to help these families.
The following are listed on the sites web page as staff of the "Freedom Alliance"
Thomas Kilgannon, President
Pepper Ailor, Program Officer
Helen Alford, Development Assistant
Catherine Charles, Programs Coordinator
Calvin Coolidge, Director of Programs
Jamie Critchfield, Staff Assistant
Janet Fallon, Event Coordinator
Marsha Fishbaugh, Administrative Assistant
Greg Foster, Researcher
Laurie Mooney, Development Officer, Foundations
Debbie Nicolette-Clark, Regional Development Officer
Jennifer Ohman, Director of Media and Public Affairs
Paul Olivett, Major Gifts Officer
Jennifer Pusatere, Director of Development
Kathy Rothschild, Development Officer
Shannon Sullivan, Development Officer, Events
Kelly Travis, Staff Assistant
Dee Wilgenbusch, Chief Operating Officer
Kilgannon made over $150,000 last year from the group. How much are the others being paid? Now look at the list of expenses again. 1.4 million for Printing and Publications? Who is getting that money? What about the $641,111 for "consultations" Is Hannity someone who was being consulted? Any of his minions? Then there's the $604,310 allegedly for salaries and wages not included above? Who is getting that money? What about the $457,622 for "other expenses." Is Hannity getting any of that?
There is absolutely nothing wrong, in and of itself, with any person, regardless of political philosophy, raising money for children who lost a parent at war. I will put aside the cruel ironies of how Hannity's policies in actions led to these deaths or how Republicans gut programs designed to help these children. (e.g. cutting scholarships and student loans)
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.
Post edited by Unknown User on
0
Comments
They are businesses with expenses. The writer is nickel and diming them, not proving anything illegal is going on.
-Enoch Powell
but when you spout off about this concert being organized to help families of soldiers and 100% of the profits, yada yada yada, and then your own group is making a crapload of money off of it instead of actually helping families, it seems pretty unethical to me.
I'd also like to see the guarantees that the talent has to see if they are "helping the cause" or just making a payday under the guise of some patriotic concert.
was like a picture
of a sunny day
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
― Abraham Lincoln
Well, that is why you do not have to go to some stupid concert to donate to young people. There are non-profits that donate far more to 9/11 kids than Hannity's crap. People choose to go to hannity's crap though.
-Enoch Powell
-Enoch Powell
Nothing in there really refutes anything, events like that have shit tons of overhead see the live earth shennigans.
All of the profits are probably going to the charity after they take out the money for the operation of the charity.
You want more dirt than this... check out the United Way's books.
This is not really a big deal it's the world of big money charity.
http://www.neoerik.com/lifelong.htm
Of course they have expenses, but, if you look at the figures:
They doled-out $850,000 in salaries to officers/empoyees. Seems a bit high, seeing that they spent much less then that on "program services" (the actions of carring out the purpose of the foundation.)
What are "consultations" ?? - paying their "associates" for services rendered, or an excuse to dole-out some money to their cronies?
Not all bands play for free....it is often worthwhile to pay a big band to play a charity gig in order to sell a lot of tix. Fundraising is a business!
Larger venues still charge thier normal rental fees, as do insurance companies, security providers, box office employees, newspapers, ticketmaster, etc.
Even if the performers play for free, they often ask for reimbursement of travel costs, crew costs, etc.
Charity gigs often advertise "Net Proceeds go to charity", so they are being truthful.
Hannity is a slippery snake, and though the concert ads are a bit misleading, he isn't really doing anything too far out of the ordinary.
Yeah, for venues there are "rent and expenses" and there is really "rent and expenses". Buildings look to make a profit too, but depending on the building and charity they will either cut it down to bare bones actual hard costs or even donate some expenses. A lot of buildings donated everything for stuff like the Katrina benefits, but they usually cover their end, even on charity.
was like a picture
of a sunny day
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
― Abraham Lincoln
...and I believe he's absolutely right when he says this
and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
over specific principles, goals, and policies.
http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg
(\__/)
( o.O)
(")_(")
The writer didn't say it was illegal, he said it was disgusting.
all posts by ©gue_barium are protected under US copyright law and are not to be reproduced, exchanged or sold
except by express written permission of ©gue_barium, the author.
With the Neo-con schedule...whatever is deemed disgusting will be illegal soon enough I imagine.
Maybe corp was exemplifying the neo-neo-con approach.
and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
over specific principles, goals, and policies.
http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg
(\__/)
( o.O)
(")_(")
I dunno. I think he's just afraid of authority.
all posts by ©gue_barium are protected under US copyright law and are not to be reproduced, exchanged or sold
except by express written permission of ©gue_barium, the author.
Bands also make money on "liberal" charity events. So do the promoters. Sometimes those benefits are more about raising awareness than amount of money earned. As long as some money goes to said charity, there's no real law being broken. Is there?
www.myspace.com/jensvad
now I'm not trying to take up for Hannity or dog this writer, but it looks pretty clear to me that he's purposefully leaving info out. I guess his argument could be "well, why aren't they giving it all out RIGHT NOW?". well, common sense would say that you INVEST the bulk so that you get the greatest return which would mean you could help MORE people in the years to come. a moderate investment of $10 million should easily yield at least $400,000 a year. that's $400,000 MORE that they'll have to give away that they wouldn't have if they gave it all away at once. non-profits don't just give away everything they make in a year and start the next year over with a 0 balance. so either the writer is biased and trying to skew the facts, or he's just a dumbass.
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm
Stop by:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=14678777351&ref=mf
that's a shame...shitting your jockeys on a regular basis can become expensive...hehe
and reveling in it's loyalty. It's made by forming coalitions
over specific principles, goals, and policies.
http://i36.tinypic.com/66j31x.jpg
(\__/)
( o.O)
(")_(")
Hail, Hail!!!
Please don't hate me
Okay... I'm out. Not a fan of country music... I hope the ones who do decide to go have a good time.
Hail, Hail!!!