Naomi Campbell, the renowned British supermodel, has been prohibited from serving as a charity trustee in England and Wales for a period of five years. This decision comes in the wake of a comprehensive investigation into the financial activities of "Fashion for Relief," a charity she established nearly two decades ago.
The Charity Commission, responsible for regulating charities in England and Wales, conducted a three-year inquiry into the organization's operations. Their findings revealed "multiple instances of misconduct and/or mismanagement" within the charity. Notably, only 8.5% of the charity's overall expenditure was allocated to charitable grants during a six-year period from 2016 to 2022.
One of the most concerning discoveries was the misuse of charity funds for personal expenses. Thousands of pounds were reportedly used to cover Campbell's luxury hotel stay in Cannes, France, including spa treatments, room service, and even cigarettes. While trustees claimed that hotel costs were typically covered by a donor, they failed to provide any supporting evidence.
The investigation also uncovered unauthorized payments to fellow trustee Bianka Hellmich, amounting to approximately 290,000 pounds ($385,000) for consultancy services. This transaction was deemed a breach of the charity's constitution. As a result, Hellmich has been disqualified as a trustee for nine years, while another trustee, Veronica Chou, received a four-year ban.
Tim Hopkins, deputy director for specialist investigations and standards at the Charity Commission, emphasized the legal obligations of trustees to make decisions in their charity's best interests and comply with their responsibilities. The inquiry concluded that the trustees of "Fashion for Relief" failed to meet these standards.
Campbell, who was discovered at age 15 while shopping in London, has had a illustrious career in the fashion industry. She was the first black model to appear on the cover of French Vogue and has graced over 500 magazine covers throughout her career. Recognized as one of the six supermodels of her generation, Campbell has walked runways for top designers like Versace, Azzedine Alaïa, and Dolce & Gabbana.
"Fashion for Relief" was founded in 2005 in response to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. The charity aimed to unite the fashion industry in efforts to relieve poverty and advance health and education through grants and disaster relief. Over its lifespan, the organization claimed to have raised more than $15 million for various causes worldwide, hosting fundraising events in major cities such as New York, London, Cannes, Moscow, Mumbai, and Dar es Salaam.
Despite its noble intentions, the charity was dissolved and removed from the register of charities earlier this year. The Charity Commission's inquiry, which began in 2021, has resulted in the recovery of approximately 344,000 pounds ($460,000), with an additional 98,000 pounds of charitable funds protected. These recovered funds have been used to make donations to two other charities and settle outstanding liabilities.
Throughout her career, Campbell has been involved in various charitable causes and has received awards for both her modeling work and philanthropic efforts. She has been a goodwill ambassador for the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood and has participated in the Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign. However, this recent scandal has cast a shadow over her charitable endeavors.
As of the current date, September 26, 2024, Campbell's representatives have not provided any comment on the situation. The fashion industry and charitable sector will undoubtedly be watching closely to see how this development impacts Campbell's future involvement in philanthropic activities.
"Trustees are legally required to make decisions that are in their charity's best interests and to comply with their legal duties and responsibilities. Our inquiry has found that the trustees of this charity failed to do so, which has resulted in our action to disqualify them."
This case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of proper governance and financial management in charitable organizations, regardless of the high-profile nature of their founders or trustees.