Wyclef Jean Defends Yele Haiti Foundation’s Finances
Haitian-American singer Wyclef Jean held a press conference in New York on Monday to defend against accusations that he has profited from his charity Yele Haiti.
Since the massive earthquake that struck Haiti last Tuesday, Jean has called on the public to text ”YELE” to 501501 to donate $5 to the Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund, which has raised over $2 million in just days, according to the Associated Press.
“Yele’s books are open and transparent. We have been given a clean bill of health by an external auditor every year since we started,” Jean told reporters.
He denied all accusations that he personally benefited from Yele Haiti, and pointed out that he gave $1 million of his own money to the charity.
He referred all further questions on finances to the Hugh Locke, the president of the foundation, saying, “My people are dying and I have to go back to the ground in a few days for a mission relief.”
This was the second time in three days Jean has defended the charity. He posted a video on YouTube on Saturday saying he had just returned from Haiti to face an “attack on my integrity and my foundation Yele Haiti.” In a rambling explanation, he said Yele Haiti is an NGO he set up to address his native country’s needs. He ended the video with another appeal for $5 donations in response for the “state of emergency” in Haiti and expressing gratitude for global aid to the country.
Click play below to watch the video:
