Farm Aid expenses eat away donations: Only 28% of revenue from last year made it to farm families

Chicago Tribune ^ | 9/17/2005 | Jason George

[Mike Bates]

Gee, a liberal like Willie Nelson being involved in a scam, while portraying himself as compassionate and caring. I am shocked. Shocked.

Michael M. Bates: My Side of the Swamp

[clee1]

Big freaking surprise, here.

[Egon]

Not a big surprise. You want a real eye-opener, take a look at the American Cancer Society's financial statements.

[cynicom]

"Expense" money buys a lot of weed.

[TC Rider]

The percentage spent on hemp is probably bigger than what they give away.

[MississippiMan]

dispensed $387,641 in 57 grants to local organizations in 2004. This was on total revenue of slightly more than $1.4 million

Forgetting the percentage scam for a moment, the numbers are tiny for any high profile charity effort. $1.4MM????

MM

[joesnuffy]

idol worship really pays off...but only if you're the idol his manager, bookeeper or X..

[Mike Bates]

I sorta learned my lesson years ago after making several contributions to Covenant House. Then I saw what percentage actually went for care. That ended the donations. Later, CH's founder, Father Bruce Ritter, was accused of molesting teenage boys.

Yeah, I learned.

[Mike Bates]

Forgetting the percentage scam for a moment, the numbers are tiny for any high profile charity effort.

Maybe that's because, IMHO, the talent is tiny.

[SeriousSassy]

Isn't average income for farmers higher than average income for other Americans?

[AngelesCrestHighway]

...Evelyn Shriver, president of Bandit Records and a director on Farm Aid's board, said she was "shocked" that such a small percentage of the money raised went to grants last year....Sounds like a giant rip off or giant tax break for 'ol Willie....Wasn't he looking for a few ways to bail out of back taxes due???

[Mike Bates]

From 2001:
Forty-seven percent of agricultural payments go to commercial farms with average household incomes of $135,397, more than two and a half times the average American household's $51,855 in earnings.

[linkinpunk]

72 percent of collections wasted on "overhead"?

That sounds like Jimmy Bakker and PTL. Jail time for Willie?

[From The Deer Stand]

This generous farm aide donation from the gov't to these impoverished farmers (Turner, Pippen, Rockefeller) courtesy of our pork-spending politicians who whine when Joe Average wants a tax cut. Sheesh!

[Mike Bates]

A dozen years ago James Bovard, who's researched the subject pretty well, wrote that the average American farmer was a millionaire.

[Mike Bates]

Jail time for Willie?

Heck, we're lucky if he pays his taxes.

[Muzzle_em]

Wonder how many of these musicians who "volunteered" got paid for their services. That is the ugly little secret about their "charity" work. Many of them get paid just to show up at some of these functions in their donated clothes and jewelry. They disgust me...ALL OF THEM!

[eyespysomething]

The income earned by farm operator households in 2005 is expected to continue a 5-year string of year-over-year increases. Average farm household income for 2005 is forecast at $88,105, up 1.2 percent from 2004. In 2005, average farm gross cash income is forecast to be $87,934, 1.6 percent higher than in 2004.

Source

[Mike Bates]

Speaking of idol worship:
Obama can't say no to Farm Aid invite

Maybe Osama Obama will find a scheduling conflict by tomorrow.