Brett Favre’s efforts to illegal get funds for his alma mater – Southern Miss – wasn’t just limited to state welfare funds. Favre also allegedly used money form his charitable foundation to help Southern Mississippi athletics.
According to a report from TheAthletic.com, Favre’s foundation known as ‘Favre 4 Hope’ donated more than $130,000 to the USM Athletic Foundation from 2018 to 2020.
Favre 4 Hope also donated $60,000 to Oak Grove High School’s booster club in 2015. Favre’s daughter was a volleyball player at the high school at the time, and the donation was then given to the school with the stated purpose to “assist to build athletic facility.” The school opened a nearly 15,000 square foot volleyball facility later that year.
It remains unclear what Favre’s donation to Southern Miss were for or fi there were any conditions placed on them, they don’t appear to have any relation to his charity’s purpose, which is to help disadvantaged children and cancer patients.
“You can’t say you’re raising money for one purpose and then spend it on something totally different,” CharityWatch executive director Laurie Styron told The Athletic. “Charities have an ethical obligation, and in some cases a legal obligation, to fulfill the intentions of its donors in the way funds are spent.”
Favre’s attorney and agent, who is also on the board of directors at Favre 4 Hope, declined to comment when approached by the Athletic.
Text messages have shown Favre pushed Mississippi state officials to help fund a new volleyball arena and indoor football facility at Southern Mississippi — even after then-Gov. Phil Bryant told him that misusing state funds could be illegal. Some of the funds that Favre wanted to use came from a federal program meant to help needy families.
In total, more than $5 million was moved from state funds to help build the volleyball facility at the university, where Favre’s daughter recently played.
Favre 4 Hope was founded in 1995 by Favre and his wife, Deanna, during his early days with the Packers. Deanna was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, which prompted Favre’s foundation to focus on helping provide financial aid for other breast cancer patients.
Favre has not been charged with a crime yet.
