When the devastating earthquake struck Haiti in 2010, the world raced to provide financial help to the poor and crippled Caribbean nation. Charities from the Salvation Army to the American Red Cross solicited donations from sympathetic citizens who were anxious to help in whatever way they could. I was one of those Americans who felt sorry for all the people who were instantly homeless and without food and medical care. Since many mainstream charities frequently dip into donations for their own administrative costs, I was adamant in finding a reputable charity that would send 100% of its donations directly to the people of Haiti. Then I found Yele.
Yele Haiti was created by Haitian singer Wyclef Jean, to benefit the needy people of his homeland during their crisis. Wyclef made it simple to donate to Yele Haiti — just text a code on your cell phone, enter the amount you want to donate, then it’s done. Easy. Perhaps a little too easy. Soon after its founding, whispers began to spread that Yele Haiti wasn’t as on the level a charity as most of us had been led to believe. Now, those whispers are coming to fruition.
Yele Haiti collected more than $16 million in 2010 alone. However, it appears Wyclef was a bit loose with the loot, paying himself $100,000 to perform at a Yele Haiti fundraiser, paying $105,000 to his mistress, and generally proving incapable of providing the type of disaster relief Haiti so desperately needed.
In light of its questionable dealings, Yele Haiti has been permanently shut down, leaving behind a trail of debts, unfinished projects and broken promises.
According to the New York Times, a New York state attorney general is currently investigating the group’s finances, and “has already found financial improprieties,” which includes improperly funneled charity cash to Jean and his friends.
A forensic audit found $256,580 in illegitimate benefits to Mr. Jean and his board and staff. These include $24,000 for Mr. Jean’s chauffeur services, as well as $30,763 for a private jet that transported Lindsay Lohan to a benefit in Chicago that raised only $66,000. Other financial abuses include $600,000 spent on Yele’s now abandoned Haiti headquarters, more than $300,000 on “landscaping,” and more than $400,000 on food and beverages.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars were also spent on projects that simply never happened, including temporary homes for which Yele prepaid $93,000; a medical center in geodesic domes for which it paid $146,000; and the revitalization of a plaza in the Cité Soleil slum, where supposed improvements that cost $230,000 are nowhere to be seen.
This is beyond reprehensible. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to conclude that myself and other caring people who donated to Yele Haiti have been had. Sadly, this type news only makes some choose never to offer their financial assistance again.
As for me, I’ll just stick with the American Red Cross next time!
