Report: Rajon Rondo's Charity Only Raised $209 in '09

Boston Celtics star point guard Rajon Rondo’s nonprofit organization only raised $209 in 2009.

According to a Boston Globe investigation, the Rajon Rondo Foundation asked supporters to donate $5 for every one of Rondo’s assists in 2009, and was only able to raise $209, all of which were spent on IRS fees. Rondo had more assists in 2009 than dollars donated to his charity.  

During the 2008-09 season, Rondo had 659 assists, averaging 8.2 assists per game. During the 2009-10 season, Rondo had 794 assists, averaging 9.8 assists a game. 

A Kentucky accountant who became Rondo’s financial adviser said he told Rondo the obvious: “The first thing I did was stick a knife in the foundation and said, ‘We can’t afford this. This is silly.'” 

Rondo now simply does volunteer work for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, participating in after-school programs. 

The Globe investigated tax-exempt charities run by athletes that have grossly underperformed, with some, such as Alex Rodriguez’s, donating only one percent of proceeds to charity.