Where Most Needed: Roger Clemens Foundation Could Use Some Juice

April 2009

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The pitcher's charity foundation stages a golf event and sells memorabilia, and a significant amount of grants go to places that aren't mentioned in the organization's web site.

A reference in the comic strip Tank McNamara let me to Roger Clemens video on YouTube in which he denied using steroids or human growth hormone. Early on in the video Mr. Clemens mentions phone calls of support made to his foundation, which of course got my attention.

Roger Clemens Foundation (EIN 76-0378319 Form 990) appears to be a very modest undertaking. The Form 990 claims that the organization doesn't even have a web site, but a search on Google turns up the official Roger Clemens web site, which claims to represent the foundation. The web site includes a sound clip from Sir Elton John's song "Rocket Man," playing off Mr. Clemens' nickname "the Rocket."

The organization's gross receipts of $578,336 comes from a number of sources in the year ending June 30, 2006, starting with special events, bringing in $290,357. These include a golf tournament, something called "Academy Kids," and the Roger Clemens award banquet, which honors the college baseball pitcher of the year, as well as a number of other smaller events.

Then there is the sale of merchandise, which brings in $123,924 a year. The web site sells memorabilia like signed baseballs ($350) and a Rocketman TPX Glove (not game worn) signed with a silver paint pen (list $999, your price $829), and a number of photos, prints, and posters in the $75 to $150 range.

After that there were cash contributions of $87,903 and in-kind contributions of $71,270.

On the expense side, the foundation distributed $293,587 in cash contributions and $146,655 in kind, plus $5,285 in assistance to individuals. There were $220,347 in other expenses including $112,980 in salaries and wages, but the executive director Janice Wilde is listed with no compensation. The books are kept by a company called Hendricks Management, which represents Mr. Clemens.

What I note in the listing of grantees is the contrast between the children-oriented charities listed on the web site and big winners among the grantees in the Form 990. The single largest gift was $75,000 to the University of Texas, followed by $50,000 to the Gulf Coast United Way and $22,000 to the Texas Museum & Hall of Fame.

Rather than cash, most charities receive in-kind gifts of Astros Tickets (largest beneficiary is not a health-related children's charity but the Girl Scouts, 400 tickets) or memorabilia. And there is a long exhibit listing the items donated for charity auctions, their cost, and the amount raised—lots of photos and baseballs, fewer autographed gloves and jerseys.

All in all, it's a pretty low key and unfocused charity for one of the major players in baseball. On the accountability side, we note that the only directors of the charity are Mr. Clemens and his wife Debbie.

Comments

Thanks for the research. Your info supports my thory that these very wealthy figures do it for image not humanitarian interest. Is he able to use this as a tax write off? What was his initical donation/

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