Arts & Entertainment
Mary J. Blige's Charity Facing Lawsuits
The singer, who is a New Jersey resident, founded an organization for the advancement of women which now reportedly owes more than $400,000.
The Mary J. Blige and Steve Stoute Foundation for the Advancement of Women (FFAWN) is facing two lawsuits saying the charity owes more than $400,000 to musicians and TD Bank, the New York Post reported Sunday.
R&B chart topper Blige, who owns a home in Saddle River and previously lived in Cresskill, started the charity in 2007 with Soute, a record label executive.
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The financial problems escalated after FFAWN held a benefit concert in May 2011, according to the Post. A lawyer representing 30 musicians from the concert said their checks — totalling more than $167,000 — bounced.
In June, FFAWN took out a $250,000 loan from TD Bank, the paper reported. The bank asked for the money back several times and finally sued the charity a few weeks ago.
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"We remain committed to our mandate of helping women gain the confidence and skills necessary to reach their full individual potential," a spokesperson for Blige told TMZ.
Blige moved to Saddle River in 2008 after she paid $12 million for a 18,250-square-foot home there. She put the house up for sale at $13.9 million last year. It is still available and priced at $12.5 million.
