Groups that vet charities are raising doubts about the organization backed by Haitian-born rapper Wyclef Jean, questioning its accounting practices and ability to function in earthquake-hit Haiti.
Even as more than $2 million poured into The Wyclef Jean Foundation Inc. via text message after just two days, experts questioned how much of the money would help those in need.
"It's questionable. There's no way to get around that," said Art Taylor, president and chief executive of the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance, based in Arlington, Va.
Taylor reviewed Internal Revenue Service tax returns for the organization also known as Yele Haiti Foundation from 2005 through 2007. He said the first red flag of poor accounting practices was that three years of returns were filed on the same day — Aug. 10 of last year.
In 2007, the foundation's spending exceeded its revenues by $411,000. It brought in just $79,000 that year.
"Here's the bottom line: for an earthquake of catastrophic proportions, do people really believe that this organization is in a position to do anything right now?" he said.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Inauguration weekend had a proper kickoff Saturday night, when Wyclef Jean performed at the Green Inaugural Ball.
"It's important for me to be here in D.C., to be part of this event, 'cause all you gotta do is Google 'Wyclef,' man," he told MTV News before the show at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium. "I'm like an Obama groupie from the very beginning. Every Wyclef song, I remixed it with 'Obama': 'I'll be gone with Obama … ' "
