Heyward Foundation pivots strategy in light of accounting discrepancies.

TLDR:

• The Heyward Foundation lost its 501(c)(3) status due to accounting errors and missing funds.
• Erik Bescher, the foundation’s tax preparer, took responsibility for the errors and stopped filing returns.

After winning the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of The Year Award, Cameron Heyward’s foundation came under scrutiny for reported accounting errors. The foundation had its 501(c)(3) status revoked in 2022 and retroactively reinstated in 2023. The issues were attributed to the hiring of Erik Bescher, who had no formal education in accounting. The foundation’s missing funds and failure to file returns led to the revocation of its tax-exempt status. Heyward-Wesley, Cameron Heyward’s mother, has taken steps to rectify the situation by hiring a new CPA and enrolling in a sports philanthropy executive program. While the mistakes were acknowledged, they do not diminish Heyward’s charitable efforts in the community.