Shock attack on Glenn McGrath breast cancer charity behind cricket’s Pink Test match leaves Aussies divided
A stunning attack on the breast cancer charity run by Australian cricket legend Glenn McGrath in honor of his late wife has divided fans.
A controversial article about the McGrath Foundation’s spending practices came as players and fans took part in the annual Jane McGrath Day, turning the Sydney Cricket Ground pink in what has become a much-loved annual event for Australian cricket.
McGrath, along with his family, took part in the event in honor of his late wife Jane, who died from the disease.
However, journalist Stephen Long stoked the debate by revealing on social media that he will not wear pink due to what he sees as the foundation’s inability to properly distribute its funds.
He claimed that a greater proportion of the charity’s money goes to fundraising and marketing than to breast nurses. The new everyday.
Long questioned the effectiveness of the Pink Test in addressing the essential needs of cancer patients, citing the financial report of the foundation which shows that significant expenditure has been made on administration and marketing.
The McGrath Foundation was founded in 2008 after Jane McGrath (pictured right with Glenn) tragically died from breast cancer
The attack came as more than 35,000 people packed into the SCG for the Pink Test against Pakistan to raise money for the McGrath Foundation.
Long reported that while $8.8 million was spent on foundation-funded breast nurses last year, more than $9.1 million went to fundraising and marketing, and another $2.2 million was spent on administration.
He claimed that while the foundation states that “68 cents on the dollar are allocated directly to our nursing program,” government grants “make up nearly 40 cents of every dollar the charity receives.”
These funds are intended for expenses specific to breast cancer nurses.
The main thrust of Long’s argument is that the Foundation is an inefficient way to fund much-needed nurses, and that the government effectively hands over the management of cancer nursing care to the charity.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the McGrath Foundation for comment.
Australian skipper Pat Cummins leads the Aussies in pink caps in honor of the McGrath Foundation
The Pakistan team also wore the pink caps and congratulated Glenn McGrath for his continued work to help people and families in the fight against breast cancer.
Long’s claims have divided cricket fans, with some agreeing that the model wastes money that could be much better spent.
“Look at most charities… they are entities dedicated to self-promotion through marketing and a vehicle for easy jobs that often pay well above market rates. Abolish all tax breaks and subject them to audit,” one commenter wrote.
‘Most charities are the same. Money goes to staff and PR. Very little reaches the front lines,” another added.
However, others were quick to dismiss the claims, calling them “vile” and saying that if the work of the McGrath Foundation did not exist, the government would not provide the funding in the first place.
‘Yes, that would be possible. But they don’t. That is why the foundation exists,” said a cricket fan.
Another added: Yes, Stephen, ‘the government could’, but often doesn’t (or doesn’t do it enough), which is the reason charities exist in the first place. Unfortunately, expensive marketing is necessary because unless it affects people directly, they either don’t care or assume the government will take care of it.’
Others rejected the suggestion that charities such as the McGrath Foundation should be expected to operate without spending on marketing.
‘The article smacks of the naive belief that charities can only run on good will. The competition for funding in the charity sector is fierce and the charities are all excellent,” one fan commented.
“Charities need to market and promote themselves, otherwise they will quickly disappear from the radar, donations will dwindle and they will die.”
By the tea break on day three of the test, just over 210,000 Virtual Pink Seats had been purchased, with the foundation setting a target of 322,000 in its new fundraising initiative.
There were plenty of vibrant outfits as Aussies got behind the breast cancer charity founded by Glenn McGrath
CEO of the McGrath Foundation Holly Masters, Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon pose for a photo with Glenn McGrath
Many Aussies have hit back at claims that the McGrath Foundation is a waste of money, saying charities should not be expected to operate without spending money on marketing.
McGrath said the idea was born during the Covid pandemic, when crowds were locked out of the Sydney Test, and had since taken on a life of its own.
‘I want to take credit, but I can’t. One of our guys at the foundation, Ryan Barlow, our director of revenue and marketing, came up with the concept,” he said.
‘It’s been a game changer. They say that out of adversity comes opportunity, and that has been a huge game changer for us.
“People come up to me now and tell me it’s created a tradition for their family every year. They receive their virtual pink chairs, they put the names of their loved ones on them, even loved ones who are unfortunately no longer with us, a message of support and then post this on their social media.‘