I went to their website and was not able to find anything re: a financial statement or any sort of disclosure. They're set up to process credit cards for donations, though.

I would need to know what their administrative costs are, and whether or not Danny is drawing a salary or other compensation from this, before I sent them a dime.

This all may be very innocent and above board; in which case, they need financial disclosure on their website.

Just went to Sophia's Heart Foundation (.org) and noticed it was copyrighted 2009... also noticed that (for a site that is supposed to be in memory of Sophia) there were an awful lot of photos of and references to (quote) Daniel "Danny" Gokey... even a short video of Gokey.

For those who would excuse his shameless self-promotion as an innocent way to raise funds for a charitable cause, go over to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation and notice the virtual absence of photos and references to widower &; actor Paul Michael Glaser.

In any event, Gokey's site was clearly started after he received his golden ticket to AI Season 8 and if the powers that be at AI are forcing websites promoted by contestants to be pulled down then Sophia's Heart should be no exception - in the very least, the site should be asked to remove any and all references to and likenesses of Gokey if he wishes to remain a contestant on the show.

The rules should apply to all or none...

"I would need to know what their administrative costs are, and whether or not Danny is drawing a salary or other compensation from this, before I sent them a dime."

...exactly, tom

Lot of folks see "non profit" and don't realize that means after salaries and expenses are paid out of the donations.

Another thing about the "Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation": it took me exactly twenty seconds to locate the link on their website to "Financial and Annual Reports"...

"One heart touching many" = cheesiest tag line ever.

Gorky Park can't even sing that well. Honestly, if I have to listen to him butcher one more inspirational ballad I may very well have to rip out my eardrums. Or his voice box.

I don't know DancingCookie...I think I'd rather have him attempt to sing inspirational ballads than anything else. Imagine the horror of him trying to perform something up tempo. Yikes! Plus the more ballads he selects, the more flack he'll take for milking his wife's memory (and hopefully the sooner people will get fed up with him).

seriously! what makes a person use their wife's death as a publicity stunt? who does that? if my wife died i wouldn't be going to a stupid singing contest 4 weeks later with my best friend thats for darn sure. I can't believe the gall of this nutcase and he's making America feel sorry for him not to mention he can't sing well due to the phlegm in his throat. He sounds like he's getting over a cold or something. Its all a popularity contest. you mean to tell me thats what they found to center the show around? totally unfair! I just don't get it. who milks their wife's memory that much? wow! I just dont understand human behavior sometimes!

LOL Moxie - okay I'm officially dreading Disco Week now...

"what makes a person use their wife's death as a publicity stunt?"

Well, to be fair, I could reconstruct some series of conversations with friends and family, where Danny was encouraged to continue the pursuit of the dream he and his wife had shared together. In that context, then, this effort could be sincerely well-intended.

That having been said, I also think that if those conversations occurred they constitute really, really bad advice. Fame and money, and minor success as a freaking pop singer, are just not that important in the ultimate scheme of things.

Work through your grief process off camera.

Gokey could have put the kibosh on this from the get-go if he had simply told the show something like: "Yes, I've suffered a terrible loss very recently. But I'd appreciate it if you would let me grieve in my own way and not make a big fuss over it. I'm doing this because it's something we talked about and she would want me to continue pursuing my dream of being a singer, so I'm trying to honor her. It's okay to mention it, but I really don't want to talk about it on camera because it's just too personal. Everyone suffers losses in life and I'm no different. I don't want to give any impression that I'm fishing for sympathy, or receive any kind of unfair advantage. But thanks for your concern." If he had done that, I would have a lot more respect for him. And I know of what I speak-- it's been 10 years gone since I lost a fiancee, and after taking time off work for a suitable period of grieving, I went on with my life without a backward glance and rarely mentioned it.