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While the quality of his play came under attack in 2022, Russell Wilson's positive spirit has been one of his defining characteristics. However, the quarterback's charity foundation 'Why Not You' is facing accusations that threaten that image.
According to a USA Today investigation via Denver Sports, the foundation spends most of its income on itself and its employees.
According to the report, the foundation spends just 24.3 percent of its income on charitable causes. 50 percent of the drawings go to the company's employees and their benefits. One such salary totals north of $100,000, taken in by an executive that works for the quarterback.
From about 2014 until 2021, the foundation drew in $7 million. Wilson won the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2020. In that year, only 21 percent of the foundation's income went to charitable causes.
The foundation, however, has defended its practices amidst the scrutiny. In a statement, executive director Shayla Tait said:
"Since founding the Why Not You Foundation in 2014, we’ve been blessed and fortunate to partner with incredible organizations to maximize our impact. We’ve successfully partnered to deliver over $13,000,000 benefiting education, pediatric cancer research and hunger prevention."
Will Russell Wilson reach the playoffs in 2023?
Russell Wilson's image nosedive continues
In the early years of the last decade, then-Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was one of the hottest names in the sport. Coming from nowhere, he helped lead the team to the Super Bowl in two consecutive years. In the first matchup, the quarterback upset Peyton Manning in Super Bowl XLVIII in the 2013 season.
In Super Bowl XLIX the following year, he came within one throw of upsetting Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. As the years continued, the Seahawks remained one of the premier teams in the NFL.
They were unable to generate any deep playoff runs, but they were consistently winning games at a high clip. However, the quarterback's reputation has taken a series of hits lately.
In 2021, he went 6-8 in games he started for the Seahawks. In 2022, with the Denver Broncos, he went 4-11. Fans gave the quarterback a pass in 2021, but in 2022, they unleashed a hailstorm of jokes and criticism.
Now, after a disastrous campaign, the 34-year-old will be aiming to deliver a redemption in 2023.
