Hawks got secret $1m donation

[Philhawk]

http://www.realfooty.com.au/news/news/hawks-got-1m-secret-donation/2007/04/03/1175366241480.html

Hawks got $1m secret donation

Jake Niall | April 4, 2007

CARLTON'S billionaire president Richard Pratt, who last week matched a million-plus in donations with a seven-figure sum of his own, is not the only president to have made a million-dollar gift to his club.

Before his replacement by Jeff Kennett at the end of 2005, Hawthorn president Ian Dicker gave the Hawks a parting gift of a cheque for about a million dollars — a donation that Dicker chose to keep secret, and which enabled the club to post a $90,937 profit instead of a loss of around $900,000.

Dicker made the donation late in 2005, when it became clear that the Hawks would not record a profit without substantial additional funds and the club launched a fundraising campaign, "brown and gold in the black" to ensure that it retained its record of posting profits during Dicker's nine years as president.

What is most striking about the gift was its secrecy — the seven-figure sums donated by Pratt last week and Joseph Gutnick as Melbourne president were acknowledged and known immediately.

To this day, neither Dicker nor the Hawks will comment on how much he gave, but sources confirmed that it was in the vicinity of a million dollars — a staggering amount considering that while Dicker, the former Ansell boss, is a very wealthy man, he is far from Pratt's league.

Hawthorn's financial statements for 2006, released in December, contain a clue that points to Dicker's hidden gift. They show, in 2005, under the heading of "gifts and special fundraising efforts", the amount of $1,582,269. The 2006 figure for gifts and special fundraising, in the next column, was just $276,288 — a drop of more than $1.3 million and a pointer to the departing president's generosity.

Dicker would not comment when asked to confirm his donation. "First of all, I'm not going to comment on any donations that I made. I made many contributions and that's not really the issue, but the key thing is we had a big fundraiser — not as big as ****'s (Pratt's) — but we had one auction and we raised over $300,000 in one night, which was a lot for us … That was the main thing we did to raise money."

Hawthorn chief executive Ian Robson also would not disclose the amount Dicker had given. "We don't discuss on the record the details of any contribution that has been made to the club by an individual out of respect to confidentiality," Robson said last night.

While Dicker's donation enabled the Hawks to post a profit following a difficult year, it is possible that he might have made the donation through the Australian Sports Foundation, which would make a portion of it tax deductible.

Dicker would not be drawn on whether any donation, regardless of the amount, was through the ASF. Pressed again on his gift, Dicker said: "It's not really relevant … I did things over the years. I did little things and bigger things — nothing like ****. But I said when we went out to Waverley, 'Do everything the right way and if we get stuck, I'll make a contribution', rather than trying to cut corners … I read ****'s doing the same things."

Wow, amazing generosity from Dicker if it's true.

 

[docker_johnno]

that is wonderful generousity.

 

[thatswhatimtalkinabout]

Absolutely does not surprise me in any way. His love and devotion to this football club is beyond question and my respect for him only enhanced when things like this leak out.

I am disappointed however that these things are not made transparent.

I was bought up to believe that cheats should never prosper and in this respect, the penalties that the Carlton Football Club has had to endure have been circumvented by quality draft selections followed by an influx of money - money that will ensure the immediate and long term future of that club.

My respect for that football club and it's directors is nil.

My love and respect for the Hawthorn Football Club is infinite and unwavering

 

[Philhawk]

Absolutely does not surprise me in any way. His love and devotion to this football club is beyond question and my respect for him only enhanced when things like this leak out.

I am disappointed however that these things are not made transparent.

I was bought up to believe that cheats should never prosper and in this respect, the penalties that the Carlton Football Club has had to endure have been circumvented by quality draft selections followed by an influx of money - money that will ensure the immediate and long term future of that club.

My respect for that football club and it's directors is nil.

My love and respect for the Hawthorn Football Club is infinite and unwavering

Fair point, twita (excuse the acronym), but perhaps his humility would have rathered that something like this was kept a 'secret'?

The thing that struck me most about the article was reading the fact that although Dicker is indeed very well off, donating $1 million is still no paltry figure and again shows his love of the club.

What a champion.

 

[Hawkamania!]

What is missed by most people is the amount of PR work Dicker still does for the Hawks. He has funded uniforms to Australian and overseas footy teams that adopted the Hawks as their team name. He is constantly promoting our club to other businessmen and trying to increase our sponsorship.

Money is one thing, however his passion and the amount of time he puts in for our club is worth many,many times more than what he has donated in dollar terms.

 

[medusala]

I am disappointed however that these things are not made transparent.

There was a heading in the revenue section with a title along the lines of special fundraising which IIRC was about $1.2/3m. I think it was pretty common knowledge (and was spoken of in the media) that most of the money came from Dickers own pocket.

Is it any wonder we are selling games in Tas?

 

[Adelaide Hawk]

I fail to see that this is anyone's business except the Hawthorn Football Club. Why is it an article in the media, and how do they arrive at a figure of $1 million when neither Dicker not Hawthorn would confirm it?

Ian Dicker is a great supporter of the Hawthorn Football Club, and we are eternally grateful for his support.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

I thought i was passionate, but damn!

 

[Hawkk]

The club's cash profit for 2006 was $1.178 million, the "paper" figure reduced to $308,632 by writing off Glenferrie assets in the move to Waverley Park. If Dicker's donation is subtracted, the club achieved an operating turnaround of about $2.2 million in 12 months.

Besides the generosity of Ian Dicker, this is the other positive news to come out of this article.

How much of this can be accredited to our new operations manager, Terry Dillon?

 

[frankc]

Besides the generosity of Ian Dicker, this is the other positive news to come out of this article.

How much of this can be accredited to our new operations manager, Terry Dillon?

This is a good point Hawkk. As an organisation, the club has become much more efficient in the use of its resources, which at the end of the day are scarce and must be used as efficiently as possible.

This is attributable, I feel, not to one man or women (however an indvidual can make a difference), but usually to proper corporate governance where funds are expended in a fashion which maximises return.

 

[Dragz]

At least it wasnt scrounged from the AFL

 

[The Kipster]

This guy was a champion of the cause...he rang me at home once, just to say hello and find out what my thoughts were from the West....when my daughter said it was "Ian Dicker" it was yeah right...sure enough was him...great guy...

 

[medusala]

How much of this can be accredited to our new operations manager, Terry Dillon?

There are very big wraps on this guy. Poaching him way well have been the best thing the president has done.

 

[lethal03]

Imagine his heartache when he sees players not putting in!

 

[Hawkers]

I seem to remember this being in the news before and it was far from secret.

He had an auction or similar at his place (like Pratt did) and raised money for the club with a contribution from Dicker making up a significant part of the donation

It was the reason the Hawks made a profit that season

Anyone else remember this?

 

[Gary Shadforth]

.

I have had a few minor dealings with Ian at the club. Met him at a Brisbane Hawks Supporter Group function. Always has time for people and is a great man.

 

[Fabulous]

I seem to remember this being in the news before and it was far from secret.

He had an auction or similar at his place (like Pratt did) and raised money for the club with a contribution from Dicker making up a significant part of the donation

It was the reason the Hawks made a profit that season

Anyone else remember this?

That was another occasion. The "open cheque" in the article was to balance the books so to speak.

 

[Flukey!]

Shame, I thought this was new news ie: a recent donation.

This was well documented end of 05.

 

[Fabulous]

Shame, I thought this was new news ie: a recent donation.

This was well documented end of 05.

Really? If it was so well documented please provide links including notes in the club's financials. This payment was hidden. You are probably referring to other fund raising donations.

 

[Hawkk]

Really? If it was so well documented please provide links including notes in the club's financials. This payment was hidden. You are probably referring to other fund raising donations.

I can't find the article - apparently you have to pay fairfax money to access their archives, but I firmly remember that the payment was described to be a part of a will (as well as property) from a mysterious wealthy supporter not on the membership records in SA.

 

[Hawk Dork]

This is a quote from the article

HAWTHORN has recorded a small profit of $90,937, its ninth in succession under the presidency of Ian Dicker.

Hawthorn's profit was achieved on a turnover of $29.46 million, up from $27.75 million in 2004.

One of the largest increases in revenue was from donations and special fundraising efforts: $1,582,269 in 2005, as opposed to $260,874 in 2004.

Robson said this figure was achieved from several well-publicised efforts, including a private auction staged in October.