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A foundation founded by former Chelsea and Ivory Coast striker, Didier Drogba, has come under scrutiny after it was discovered that only less than 1 per cent of the cash it raised in the UK has gone to good causes.
According to Daily Mail, stars, royals and businessmen have donated more than £1.7 million to the foundation which is backed by Princess Beatrice and David Beckham
The investigative report added that supporters, including Bono, Frank Lampard and Christine Bleakley, were told the cash would build a hospital and help educate impoverished children in Ivory Coast. But, disturbingly, accounts show that just £14,115 went to good causes while about £439,32 was spent putting on lavish fundraising parties, where the Princess and other famous guests enjoyed champagne and were entertained by leading pop stars. The rest of the money was said to have been left languishing in accounts.
The shocking evidence will horrify the charity’s backers — including Pele, John Terry, Roger Federer and Donna Air, the girlfriend of the Duchess of Cambridge’s brother James.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is also known to have made a ‘large personal donation’.
There were also questions last night about millions of pounds in sponsorship earnings from Pepsi, Nike and Samsung, which Drogba claims have gone to the charity.
The money — none of which appears in the charity’s UK accounts — is understood to have been paid into an account in the charity’s name in Ivory Coast.
In a series of revelations starting today, the Daily Mail reveals how the charity:
- Raised more than £1.7 million in the UK over five years, but spent just 0.8 per cent of this on good causes.
- Claimed to be funding the construction of a hospital and up to five other clinics — but has built only one clinic, which has no staff or medical equipment.
- Told supporters one fundraising ball in London had raised £300,000 — even though it was so expensive to put on that it lost £71,000.
- Until last year, it had an Ivorian FIFA executive, who was later questioned by police on allegations of bribery, as one of its three trustees.