An astonishing attack on the breast cancer charity run by Aussie cricket legend Glenn McGrath in honour of his late wife has left fans divided.
A controversial article on the spending practices of the McGrath Foundation came as as players and fans participated in the annual Jane McGrath Day, turning the Sydney Cricket Ground pink in what has become a cherished annual fixture for Aussie cricket.
McGrath, along with his family, joined the event dedicated to his late wife Jane, who died of the disease.
However, journalist Stephen Long stirred debate by revealing on social media that he won’t wear pink due to what he regards as the foundation’s failure to allocate its funds properly.
He claimed that more of the charity’s money goes to fundraising and marketing than to breast care nurses along in an article for The New Daily.
Long questioned the effectiveness of the Pink Test in addressing cancer patients’ essential needs, citing the foundation’s financial report showing substantial expenditures on administration and marketing.
The McGrath Foundation started in 2008 after Jane McGrath (pictured right with Glenn) tragically died from breast cancer
The attack came as more than 35,000 people crammed into the SCG for the pink Test against Pakistan to help raise money for the McGrath Foundation
Long reported that while $8.8million was spent on ‘foundation-funded breast care nurses’ last year, more than $9.1 million went towards fundraising and marketing, and a further $2.2million was spent on administration.
He alleged that while the foundation states of ’68 cents per dollar is directly allocated to our nursing program’, government grants constitute ‘almost 40 cents of every dollar received by the charity’.
These funds are mandated for expenditure specifically on breast cancer nurses.
The main thrust of Long’s argument is that the Foundation is an inefficient way of funding the desperately needed nurses, and the government is essentially handing administration of cancer nursing care to the charity.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the McGrath Foundation for comment.
Australian skipper Pat Cummins leads the Aussies out wearing pink caps to honour the McGrath Foundation
The Pakistan team also wore the pink caps and congratulated Glenn McGrath for his ongoing work to help people and families battling breast cancer
Long’s claims have divided cricket fans, with some agreeing that the model is wasting money that could be much better spent.
‘Look at most charities … they end up entities devoted to self promotion via marketing and a vehicle to cushy jobs often paying well above market rates. Remove all tax benefits and subject to scrutiny,’ one commenter wrote.
‘Most charities are the same. Money goes on staff and PR. Very little makes it to the front line,’ another added.
However, others were quick to slam the claims, calling them ‘mean spirited’ and saying the government would not provide the funding in the first place if the McGrath Foundation’s work did not exist.
‘Yeah they could. But they don’t. Hence the foundation existing,’ one cricket fan posted.
Another added: Yes Stephen, ‘Government could’, but often doesn’t (or does it inadequately), which is the reason charities exist the first place. Sadly expensive marketing is required bc unless it directly impacts people, they either don’t care or just assume the govt sorts it.’
Others slammed the suggestion that charity organisations like the McGrath Foundation should be expected to operate without spending on marketing.
‘The article smacks of the naive belief that charities can run on nothing but goodwill. The competition for funding in the charity space is ferocious, and the causes all excellent,’ one fan pointed out.
‘Charities need to market and self promote, otherwise they quickly fall off radar, donations drop to bugger all and they effectively die.’
Just over 210,000 Virtual Pink Seats had been purchased at the time of the tea break on day three of the Test, with the foundation setting a target of 322,000 in its new initiative to raise money.
There were plenty of lively outfits as Aussies got behind the breast cancer charity started by Glenn McGrath
McGrath Foundation chief executive 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 the McGrath Foundation is a waste of money, saying charity organisations should not be expected to operate without spending on marketing
McGrath said the idea had been born during the Covid pandemic when crowds were locked out of the Sydney Test, and had taken on a life of its own ever since.
‘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 out of adversity comes opportunity and that has has been a massive game changer for us.
‘People now come up and tell me that every year it has created a tradition for their family. They get their virtual pink seats, they put their loved ones names one it, even loved ones that are unfortunately not with us anymore, message of support and then post it on their social media.‘
