Sammy Hagar has opened up about his charitable giving and how it affects his businesses and even his music tours -- and urged people who can give to give what they can.
The leader of The Circle and former Van Halen frontman tells writer Clay Marshall that he's driven to "make business" because he gives away the all the money from most of his businesses, especially his restaurants, to charity. He points to his airport restaurants, where he takes a royalty off the top that he then gives to that community -- "so in Maui, the money stays in Maui; in Honolulu, the money stays in Honolulu; in Las Vegas, the money stays in Las Vegas; in Cleveland, the money stays in Cleveland. It's such a great way to help people."
He also says that he's written a check to the local food band in every place he's performed "for the last 10 years. Every city, and every time" -- and if he goes back to any city, "even for the 10th time, they get the same check again." He adds that sometimes on his days off he heads to food banks, where he hands out "food to people and talks to them to find out why they're in that food line."
Hagar complains that "a bum rule" makes it impossible to give money directly to people in need, because they would actually get taxed on it. Instead, he and others give money to hospitals, who can then pass along free care to people.
He says that his charitable giving drives him to start more businesses. "I don't need any more money. I'm good. But I can help people." (Blabbermouth)