Through the organization's spokesperson, the U2 rocker explains that his ONE campaign uses its money to raise awareness rather than being handed straight to those who need help.
- September 24, 2010
AceShowbiz - A representative for Bono's Aids charity has spoken out after the organization came under fire for spending more money on wages than on good causes. The U2 rocker has thrown himself into humanitarian work over the last few years and set up the ONE campaign to help fight the Aids epidemic and combat global poverty.
But the organization hit the headlines for the wrong reasons this week after it was revealed the non-profit group took nearly $15 million in public donations in 2008, but only $184,732 was distributed between three charities, according to documents obtained by the New York Post.
The group's wage bill amounted to more than $8 million and the organization was also criticized for sending out expensive gift boxes to media organizations. ONE spokesman Oliver Buston has now defended the way the organization is run, insisting the money is used for promoting its campaign and raising awareness rather than being handed straight to those who need help.
He says, "We don't provide programs on the ground. We're an advocacy and campaigning organization."
