Mike Ditka- full of hot air

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Payouts to ex-players small from Ditka's charity


By Richard Willing, USA TODAY
Twice this year, pro football legend Mike Ditka has blasted the National Football League and its players union, telling Congress that both groups are "delaying or denying" requests by needy retired players for help.
Ditka formed a charity in 2004 to aid those players.
The Mike Ditka Hall of Fame Assistance Trust Fund has collected $1.3 million and netted about $315,000 after expenses. But it has given only $57,000 to former players in need, according to federal and Illinois tax records.



The trust paid more in fees to induce former stars to appear at a 2005 fundraiser than it gave needy ex-players in its first three years.


The charity has spent $715,000, the bulk of the money it raised, to put on three annual golf tournaments, records show. That figure includes payments of about $280,000 to a Chicago firm that organized the tournaments and at least $65,000 in honoraria to ex-stars. The tax filing doesn't list the stars who received fees.

http://www.usatoday.com/community/tags/topic.aspx?req=tag&tag=Recipients
The Ditka fund projected that it would make $890,000 in grants to needy football Hall of Fame members or their families in its first three years, according to papers filed with the IRS when the charity sought tax-exempt status in 2004.


"The problem is finding (needy) guys and getting them to fill out the (application) form," Ditka said in an interview. "Some of these guys are scared of forms. There could be pride involved, too."


Ditka is the outspoken former Hall of Fame player and coach for the Chicago Bears. In June, he told a House panel that injured and needy ex-players are "treated like dogs" while the union "does nothing material to help these guys." His charity, he said then, was created to redress "this grave injustice."


The charity, recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt organization, gave nothing to players during its first two years. It aided 10 ex-players in 2006.


Carl Francis, a spokesman for the players union, a key Ditka target, said the charity's payout undercuts Ditka's criticisms. "At some point it's got to be about more than holding yet another press conference and blasting people," Francis said. "You ought to be announcing 'We just gave away a half a million.' Unless, of course, you didn't."


Two charities formed by the NFL and its union gave about $1.1 million a year from 2000 through 2005 to needy ex-players and related causes, tax records show.


Ditka said he had paid little attention to his charity's numbers until this year. He has begun cutting fundraising costs and will insist that half of the annual tournament's proceeds be paid out, he said, adding that the trustees have been told to pay needy players first before requiring them to fill out forms.


Ditka said appearance fees will remain. "You're asking guys to play golf in August in a tournament that's got my name on it," he said.
Daniel Borochoff, president of the American Institute of Philanthropy, a charity watchdog, said the Ditka trust may have underestimated the charity's workload by naming only two volunteer trustees — three fewer than the minimum the institute recommends.


The group, he said, appears to have underestimated the cost of putting on golf tournaments, which are typically among the most expensive types of fundraiser.


Still, Borochoff said, details of expenditures such as the honoraria to Hall of Fame players that total more than the amount paid to needy players, are a "little embarrassing."


"People who thought they were playing to benefit old players could be disappointed by how little has gone to them," he said.
 

burmafrd

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This looks like a guy with an agenda. Maybe he is hooked into the NFL in some way- they have been very embarrassed by the whole scandal. Its a lot harder then it looks to set something like that up. I notice no big donations from any current or recent stars. And that is sad.
 

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I get USA Today (good newspaper) Monday through Friday and they had an article on this.

At first I was very surprised because this guy has been going on and on about how some NFL players are not being treated properly after retirement. Don't quote me, just trying to remember from reading it a few days ago, millions brought in, 375,000 put aside and 57,000 paid out. Those numbers are close.

Then I started thinking about it and I realized this really is nothing new. Just the way of the world today. Be careful what charity you contribute to.

The best charity, give it directly. You know exactly where it goes. I try to do this now. Homeless people, poor people, and well I have to admit the Salvation Army (still give to them).

Ditka, you should be ashamed.
 

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burmafrd;1818175 said:
. I notice no big donations from any current or recent stars. And that is sad.

Kyle Turley is donating an entire game check to Mike Ditkas self promotional golf tournament fund.
 

TheGoat73

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you can see for yourself at www.guidestar.org

Nonprofits usually have to make their tax filings (usually form 990) public.

A tax form doesn't tell you everything, but the expenses for the golf tourney look WAY out of line.

But, it is worth noting that foundations often go through a couple of years of building assets before making a lot of distributions. Often only investment income is distributed for the sake of perpetuity of the fund/foundation.
 

burmafrd

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So ONE player is doing something. I guess that is enough for you, just say no?
 

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burmafrd;1823888 said:
So ONE player is doing something. I guess that is enough for you, just say no?



I really dont give a damn either way which current players choose to help Mike Ditka pay appearance fees for his golf tournaments.
 

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MINNEAPOLIS -- Mike Ditka said Tuesday he would dissolve his Hall of Fame Assistance Trust Fund in the wake of a report that the charity had given only a small amount of money to needy former NFL players.

USA Today reported last week that Ditka's fund had collected $1.3 million since it was formed in 2004, but netted only about $315,000 after expenses and distributed just $57,000 to former players.

Ditka disputed part of the report, saying the trust has actually given away $159,000.

He said the fund's balance of more than $600,000 would be divided equally between Misericordia, a residential facility for developmentally disabled youth, and Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, another fund that helps former professional football players in need.

Ditka appeared in Minneapolis with several former Vikings stars to publicize the Gridiron Greats fund. Ditka, a board member for that charity, said he would focus his future efforts on that fund, and made a personal donation of $25,000 on Tuesday.

Ditka is among retired players who have feuded with the NFL Players Association over what they say is the union's refusal to award disability benefits to former players.

Jennifer Smith, a spokeswoman for Gridiron Greats, said the infusion from Ditka's fund would "make a major impact" on her group's efforts.
 
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