It’s always good when local organizations and businesses donate a portion of their sales to local charities as well as sponsor charitable events. But should a local organization that was funded in 2016 by the Shreveport City Council to the tune of $100,000 a year and the Caddo Commission in the amount of $50,000 be giving money to local charities?
The Independence Bowl started a Charitable Donation Program in 2013; the Bowl has been underwritten for years by both the Shreveport City Council and the Caddo Commission. According to a recent press release, the I Bowl Foundation takes a portion of each ticket sold to the Independence Bowl and donates the funds to selected non-profit organizations.
No one can question the charitable gifts, but the logic of utilizing public dollars to underwrite a game for ticket sales to fund the gifts is highly questionable. For many reasons local public funding of the Independence Bowl should cease and the this charitable gift program is just the latest evidence that the I Bowl needs to stand on its on without tax dollars.