US charity director diverted $50,000 donation linked to Curry couple's TV appearance

EOBA director Howard Solomon with Steph Curry and Ayesha Curry. Image: CBS News. A former executive director of a youth boxing charity in Oakland, California, diverted a $50,000 donation presented during Stephen Curry and Ayesha Curry's appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show into his personal bank account. Howard Solomon, also known as Solomon Howard, was sentenced to 27 months in federal prison in September 2025 after pleading guilty to mail fraud and tax evasion. The donation was made to the East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA) by a television studio in connection with a December 2019 episode featuring the Currys on Ellen's Greatest Night of Giveaways. Prosecutors said Solomon embezzled at least $549,000 from the organisation between 2017 and 2021, using charitable funds for personal expenses. He was also ordered to repay the charity and the Internal Revenue Service.How the $50,000 donation was divertedAccording to the US Department of Justice, EOBA received the $50,000 donation in October 2019. The contribution was connected to the Currys' appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in December that year, during a segment called Ellen's Greatest Night of Giveaways.During the segmen...