SANTA CLARA, CA - FEBRUARY 07: Former NFL player Brett Favre looks on prior to Super Bowl 50 between ... [+]
Brett Favre’s participation in a recently uncovered Mississippi welfare scandal has made national news. Some have begun to question his direct involvement in the welfare scheme and what consequences he will face. However, the larger concern might be what other critics of Favre have voiced. His involvement in a scandal potentially took valuable resources from Mississippi residents who desperately needed them.
Since news broke of the former Green Bay Packer’s involvement in the welfare scandal, details around his role have become increasingly more concerning. Although Favre has not yet been charged with a crime, the state of Mississippi has sued him. The Associated Press recently released that texts that were found revealed that the former quarterback colluded with former Mississippi governor Phil Bryant to transfer at least $5 million in state welfare funds to build a new volleyball stadium at the University of Southern Mississippi while Favre’s daughter was playing volleyball there. More specifically, the $5 million was channeled improperly from the federally earmarked Temporary Assistance for Needy Families fund.
It’s worth noting that several nonprofit executives, such as Nancy and Zach New, have pled guilty to state and federal charges for their involvement in the volleyball project, along with former director of human services John Davis. The texts ultimately lead to a broader investigation into the football star’s personal finances. Earlier this week, Katie Strand and Kalyn Kahler published an article in The Athletic that Brett Favre’s charitable foundation, Favre 4 Hope, which purports to support cancer patients and disadvantaged children, gave more money to Southern Miss than any other donating body during the same time as his involvement with Mississippi officials on the volleyball project.
More specifically, ESPN gained access to tax records which indicated that from 2018 to 2020, Favre 4 Hope donated more than $130,000 to the University of Southern Mississippi Athletic Foundation. Again, these massive donations were during the same time Favre was financing the new volleyball center at the university. Interestingly, three years prior, when Favre’s daughter played volleyball at Oak Grove High School in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, tax records show the Favre 4 Hope foundation donated $60,000 to Oak Grove’s booster club. The Athletic also reported that the club subsequently granted $60,349 to the school to help build an athletic facility.
Although the donations from Favre’s nonprofit might not have been illegal, experts say that charities given money for a specific purpose have an ethical obligation to spend funds the way donors intended. That said, it remains to be confirmed whether or not those funds were not misappropriated. However, many argue that reports of the donations seem suspicious when considering Favre’s involvement in the welfare scandal.
While Favre’s fate remains to be seen, some are outraged by his actions. Furthermore, that there has not been more discussion denouncing his behavior. Some have pointed out that certain groups who speak out against families in need legally receiving welfare benefits have not nearly been as vocal about Favre, who is worth $100 million yet benefitting from welfare funds. So, the two questions for some are if this is a case of “the rich stealing from the poor” and whether Bret Favre will be held accountable for his actions both legally and in public opinion or if he will benefit from the privilege of being a wealthy white male former pro football star. But one thing is for sure – the funds distributed to Favre’s volleyball project did not go to those who truly needed them.
According to the U.S. Census, almost 20% of Mississippi residents either lives at or below the poverty line, which is the worst rate in the nation. This percentage includes 28% of children. The federal government gives money to states to distribute to needy populations through its Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. But before the scandal came to light, Mississippians struggled to access the money. That said, many argue that the Bret Favre welfare scandal only further highlights a major countrywide issue with earmarked money in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families fund and that this money doesn't go to the right places enough.
