Brett Favre's charity strayed from its stated purpose, gave money to Southern Miss athletics

The stated purpose of Brett Favre's charity, "Favre 4 Hope," is to raise and distribute money to help "disadvantaged and disabled children and breast cancer patients," according to a summary filed with the state of Mississippi.

From 2018 to 2020, however, the foundation gave nearly $133,000 to Southern Mississippi athletics.

Tax records obtained by USA TODAY Sports on Thursday show that Favre's charity donated five-figure sums to his alma mater in three consecutive fiscal years:  $60,000 in 2018, $46,817 in 2019 and $26,175 in 2020.

Those numbers, which were first reported by The Athletic, exceed the amounts given to other charities whose missions seem to more closely align with the stated purpose of Favre's foundation, such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation and Pink Ribbon Fund.

"He has been very generous to Southern Miss since he played ball there," Favre's attorney, Bud Holmes, told ESPN, which later confirmed the donations. "Those particular things (the donations) I don't know, but I know he has always given back, something most athletes don't do."

Holmes did not immediately reply to an email from USA TODAY Sports seeking comment Thursday.

The charitable contributions from Favre's organization to Southern Miss athletics have drawn scrutiny amid the former NFL quarterback's role in a civil case in Mississippi. The state has sued Favre and others in an attempt to recover more than $20 million in misspent welfare money.

The lawsuit alleges the welfare money was funneled through a nonprofit to Favre and later spent to construct a new volleyball facility at Southern Miss, where Favre's daughter played.

Contributing: The Associated Press

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on Twitter @Tom_Schad.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Brett Favre's charity strayed from purpose, gave to Southern Miss