Where John McCain's Foundation Donates

March 14, 2008

Where John McCain's Foundation Donates

Harper’s Magazine has taken a look at the giving by Sen. John McCain’s foundation and writes it has primarily given money to private schools his children have attended.

In the article by Ken Silverstein, he writes that from 2001 to 2006, the foundation awarded $1.6-million, with $500,000 going to Xavier College Preparatory and other “elite” schools the couple’s four children attended.

“There’s nothing illegal or improper about the foundation’s contributions,” writes Mr. Silverstein, “but it’s not exactly the pattern of giving you’d expect from someone who has cultivated an anti-elitist image.”

A spokesman for Mr. McCain told Mr. Silverstein that the giving simply reflected the couple’s charitable interests.

“These are schools that did great things for the McCains’ kids and they felt it was appropriate to support them,” the spokesperson said.

According to its most recent 990 informational tax form, the John and Cindy McCain Family Foundation, in Phoenix, was set up in 1997 by the Republican presidential candidate from Arizona and his wife, who is its chairman and president.

What do you think? Do the gifts raise questions about Mr. McCain? Or is it not unusual for parents to donate to their children’s schools? Click on the comments link below this post to share your thoughts.

— Ian Wilhelm

Comments

Ethically the McCain’s Foundation has violated no laws.They have successfully placed assets in a tax free foundation to accure interest so they can donate to the charities that may directly benefit themselves,their children.Large donors almost always have influence over the charity.I’ll bet their children had no problems getting the educational needs that were tailor made for their children,while other poor children that deserved an opportunity for a quailty education could have benefited from the McCain Foundation.I am disappointed that the foundation appears to be established for the benefit of the McCain family.How can we ever break the poverty cycle when we are merely recycle family money?

— Brent Mar 15, 08:20 AM #

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