Jeff Gordon Donates $1,000,000

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Gordon Named Pocono Spirit Award Winner
Jeff Gordon has been named the second-quarter winner of NMPA/Pocono Spirit Award. In May, the Jeff Gordon Foundation announced a $1,000,000 gift toward the building of the new children's hospital at NorthEast Medical Center in Concord, NC. The new 26,800-square-foot facility will be called the Jeff Gordon Children's Hospital at NorthEast Medical Center. In making the donation, Gordon said, "the racing community in this region has done so much for me and I wanted to do something in return. The NorthEast Medical Center is consistently rated in the Top 100 hospitals in the country and when I heard of their plans for a children's hospital, I wanted to lend my support to the project. The gift from The Jeff Gordon Foundation will help ensure the best medical care for the racing families in this community, especially their children." The NMPA/Pocono Spirit Award recognizes character and achievement in the face of adversity as well as sportsmanship and contributions to motorsports. Each quarter during the year the National Motorsports Press Association (NMPA) names a winner of the Spirit Award. Each January, the NMPA and Pocono International Raceway honor the four quarter winners and select a national winner at the NMPA annual convention. Michael and Buffy Waltrip won the first-quarter award.

From Insider
 
Obviously it's always great if money goes to good causes.

But, the title of this thread is: 'Jeff Gordon donates $1,000,000.' Where is fact it's the Jeff Gordon foundation. Not exactly the same thing. Everyone in professional sports who is earning big bucks has a 'foundation'. Another word for 'tax shelter'.
 
wheter its jeff gordon or the jeff gordon foundation is pointless...its still freakin awesome.
 
This Buds For Me said:
wheter its jeff gordon or the jeff gordon foundation is pointless...its still freakin awesome.
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You are correct. Jeff is still the source of the money for the donation. I applaud him for the contribution, as well as Mikey and his wife for their donations.
 
Yeah I think we should slam the guy for hiding behind a foundation with his name on it that is doing such good work. Way to go. Really raises my opinion of some... :rolleyes:
 
Of course it's awesome and great and many other things. My point was that Jeff Gordon and the Jeff Gordon Foundations are not one and the same. The money did not come out of Jeff's pocket. Some came from his earnings, of course. But they also solicit money from other sources. The foundation has a board of directors, who control where the mony goes. Naturely, donations will go to causes that are favored by Jeff. So if he was given and award, that's great. That'll all I meant.

Same with the million from the Tony Stewart foundation to Kyle Petty's work. And many other athlete's donations you read about. Foundation are not someones pocket.
 
The money did not come out of Jeff's pocket. Some came from his earnings, of course.
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Is that not a contradiction that you posted there?

Jeff is also on the board of directors, as this is HIS foundation. He has the final say as to where the money goes. Majority of these drivers do some really great things that go completely unnoticed.
 
:wub: That's great news, he will help a lot of children and parents.
 
majestyx said:
Jeff is also on the board of directors, as this is HIS foundation. He has the final say as to where the money goes. Majority of these drivers do some really great things that go completely unnoticed.
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Of course they do. And I'm sure many of them do reach into their pockets. People in all walks of life do so, and in many cases it's a hardship and sacrifice. Is it in this case?

So why do many of those with mega incomes found foundations? It's a tax shelter. Simple as that. To reduce their tax burden.

I'm not picking on Jeff or Tony or any of the rich and famous. That's how the system works. The average person pays his or her fair share of taxes, don't we? Do the very rich?

I'm sure some will say that for the money to go to a good cause is better than into the tax bucket. But that's another subject.
 
I understand what you are saying but Jeff, Tony and the others didn't just wake up and have this money thrust upon them. I, for one, do not see why athletes make so much money. Why does a college football coach make more than the President of the USA? Why are some actors and actresses paid $20Million for 1 film? And they can do 2-3 a year and hardly break a sweat. But, firemen and policemen and especially our folks in the military can qualify for food stamps.

Where I work they did a salary adjustment where anyone with over 5 years of service and under the midpoint of the pay scale was brought to the middle of the pay scale. I had 8 years and a co-worker had 26. Now we both were making the same thing. They got upset. At me. But, I weren't turning down the money. I don't kiss A to get where I am and besides this was a company wide initiative. They ended up quitting. I do feel bad but I don't feel responsible. There are salary inequities every where we look. Some more so than others. If they want to give money to their favorite charity (as long as it is a charity I can agree with - ie no Al Queda charity) and not pay taxes on that money good for them. I can't do it.
 
I don't want anyone to get the impression that I'm complaining about any of the drivers donating to what ever cause they want. And I'm not complaining over the amount of money they make. That's the system, so be it.

The only thing that irks me just a little is when athletes are made heroes for making these huge donations out of their own foundations, which are set up as a tax shelter.
 
I would say they are already "heroes" to many people. That's why they have the means to set up these foundations and the money to give out. What would you call a driver who enjoyed such success (and no I don't know of any) that did not give back to the community? Did Jeff (or Tony or Kyle) do this to get their name in the paper? To get a little tic mark by their name for being a "good guy"? Because giving a Mil to charity would save them half that in taxes?
There are plenty of examples in other walks of life that don't give back. That only want to live a life of luxury and any available money ends up in the hands of cons, whores or up their nose.
It really gripes my ass to have some actor on TV asking for donations to help the needy and then you find out they haven't done squat with their millions.
But, such is the irony of life.
 
bumpzter said:
I don't want anyone to get the impression that I'm complaining about any of the drivers donating to what ever cause they want. And I'm not complaining over the amount of money they make. That's the system, so be it.

The only thing that irks me just a little is when athletes are made heroes for making these huge donations out of their own foundations, which are set up as a tax shelter.
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I suppose we'd only know what their intentions are if we knew how they felt. If I were a weathly individual whom set up a foundation that made significant contributions back to the community and was heartfelt about lending a hand to those in need I would consider that the main accomplishment. Knowing that I am saving on my tax bill to me would be in the back of my mind. I'd hope and do believe there are many people including Jeff Gordon that feel that way.
 
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