TIMBERLAKE IN CHARITY FLOP

[tinman]

TIMBERLAKE IN CHARITY FLOP

A LAS Vegas restaurant-workers union has launched an assault against Justin Timberlake and *NSYNC's children's charity, which they claim isn't very charitible.
Culinary Workers Union 226 looked into the Challenge for Children foundation while doing some digging into Timberlake, who they say is an "ambassador" for Planet Hollywood. The union is involved in a labor dispute with a casino that the celeb-backed eatery chain is taking over.

Union 226 claims the charity "does not meet Better Business Bureau standards" for giving away money, and also says they've obscured this fact in IRS filings. The union has filed "investigation requests" with the BBB, the IRS and the Florida attorney general's office, since Challenge for the Children's next fundraiser is in Miami this weekend.

In an effort to derail the fundraiser, 226 also fired off letters to reps for celebrities, corporations and charitable organizations, urging them not to participate, sponsor or donate to the event.

In a letter to potential participants, 226 declares, "By several measures, Challenge for the Children actually donated very little of its financial resources to charities serving children, while accumulating a significant reserve that it did not disperse."

The union claims the foundation raised about $2 million in 2002 but gave away only about 25 percent of it. The union says that CFTC's mission is to give away 50 percent of its gross receipts. Now, they say, CFTC has millions of dollars sitting in its accounts.

Timberlake's rep Ken Sunshine insists he's being unfairly targeted. "He's not involved with Planet Hollywood," Sunshine says. "He's only gone there a couple of times. He's never earned a penny from them. He's probably just the biggest star they could find."



"We are well within the IRS guidelines," insists CFTC rep Melinda Bell. "Our books are open."

In any case, CFTC's efforts are in keeping with the low level of other celeb charity giving. As we reported a few months back, industry watchdog Charity Navigator says nearly half of them do a lousy job. Charities fronted by Steven Spielberg, Robin Williams and Jessica Simpson aren't so hot. Lance Armstrong, Bill Cosby and Mariah Carey on the other hand run reputable charities that give away plenty of dough.

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