Sammy Sosa Charity Woes

By Stephen M. Silverman

10/06/1998 at 12:00 AM EDT

The charity started by Chicago Cubs' star Sammy Sosa is in big trouble, reports Fortune magazine. Two years after the baseball slugger set up the charitable foundation to provide relief to those in need in the Dominican Republic, the organization is reportedly experiencing financial troubles and has been charged with impropriety by board members. Fortune also reports that Sosa has yet to make a "significant cash contribution" to the charity. Foundation president Bill Chase told New York's Daily News that the story "has been blown out of proportion" but confirms a report that back rent is owed on a building used by the foundation in Sosa's hometown of San Pedro de Marcoris in the Dominican Republic. As for the board members' allegations of misuse of funds and bad management -- they say large quantities of food, clothing and medical equipment have remained in a Miami warehouse since last fall -- Chase claimed he knew nothing of the supplies. Sosa, who kicked off the baseball season last week in Japan, has not commented on the story.