Orange County Register

You could say that the guy who brainstormed Snowball Express - a weekend of gratis SoCal fun for families of fallen soldiers - put the wrong financial foot forward. Not only did he have a history of personal bankruptcy, substance abuse and legal problems, but his charity wasn’t actually a charity yet.

Michael Kerr stepped out of the picture and Snowball Express continued  on - getting tax-exempt status and flying hundreds of kids whose parents have been killed since 9/11 into Orange County for parties, Christmas shows, shopping sprees, visits to Disneyland and Universal Studios, etc.

As the third Snowball flies into town today, The Watchdog looks at Snowball’s tax returns and sees, well, something as pure as the driven snow:

• In 2007, Snowball Express spent $436,330 on the event, according to its most recent return.
• The overwhelming majority of its spending - nearly 98 percent - went directly toward stuff for the families.

That puts it among the most highly efficient charities - quite an accomplishment for an organization founded amid controversy over its nonprofit status.

These totals don’t include the value of in-kind contributions from participating companies - stuff like tickets from Disneyland, transportation from American Airlines, hotel rooms, etc. That stuff was valued at $2.24 million in 2007. (A little simple math shows that to be a week costing some $1,700 per person)

Snowball Express - once the M. Scott Kerr Foundation - had net assets of $102,891, its 2007 tax return says.

About 1,400 people are in town this week for the fun. “This all-volunteer, non-profit organization provides a few days of joy for lives that have been shattered by the loss of a mother, father, husband or wife and is instrumental in creating a vast network of support among surviving family members,” a release from Snowball says.

“After a rocky start, I am thrilled that our vision and hard work paid off, and this event continues to grow each year, bringing joy and honor to the children who paid the ultimate price for us,” Kerr said in an email to the Register. “It was, and still is simply, the right thing to do.”

More Watchdog:

• County workers get 800 job cuts, supervisors get remodels
• OC Sheriff will send sunshine ambassadors to Canada
• Victimized twice? State crime victims program spends oodles on itself
• Amnesty International: Tasers too lethal for police use 
• Trustees delay vote on whether to raise their own pay 67%
• Parking ticket purgatory ensnares Tustin man - over car he no longer owns
• Leased a car? Beware! DMV working on glitch that sows confusion
• Splish, Splash, You’re Taking A Bath
• Free, cool stuff! OC Archives’ generosity irks history buffs
• AIG to OC workers: Thanks for the bailout, happy holidays, you’re fired

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