New York, NY – June 02, 2025, 04:32 AM ET – Fox News stars Sean Hannity and Ainsley Earhardt are facing scrutiny after investigative reporters visited their newly opened Hannity & Earhardt Charity House for Children with Down Syndrome in Long Island, only to uncover a reality starkly different from the glowing promises made to the press. The facility, announced in January 2025 as a “state-of-the-art sanctuary” for children with Down syndrome, was revealed to be underfunded, understaffed, and far from the luxurious haven the couple had described, raising questions about the project’s management and transparency.
Hannity, 63, host of Hannity, and Earhardt, 48, co-host of Fox & Friends, launched the initiative with a high-profile gala in February 2025, raising $5 million through donations, including Hannity’s reported $1 million personal contribution—part of his $25 million annual Fox News salary, per Celebrity Net Worth 2024. The couple, who confirmed their relationship in 2020 after Hannity’s divorce from Jill Rhodes, promoted the house as a 10,000-square-foot facility with sensory rooms, a therapy pool, and 24/7 specialized care for 30 children. “This will be a beacon of hope,” Earhardt said at the opening ceremony on May 15, 2025, attended by Fox News colleagues like Dana Perino.
However, when reporters from The New York Post toured the facility on May 30, 2025, following tips from concerned donors, they found a starkly different picture. The building, while structurally complete, lacked promised amenities: the therapy pool was an empty concrete basin, sensory rooms were bare with exposed wiring, and only two part-time staff members were present instead of the 15 full-time specialists advertised. The 12 children currently housed there, aged 6 to 14, were sharing outdated toys, and meals consisted of basic sandwiches—far from the “gourmet, nutrition-focused” menu Hannity touted. “It felt more like a neglected daycare than a sanctuary,” one reporter noted.
Financial records obtained by the Post revealed that only $2 million of the $5 million raised had been spent on the house, with $1.5 million allocated to “administrative costs” and marketing, including the gala. A whistleblower, a former project manager, claimed, “The vision was there, but the funds were mismanaged—vendors went unpaid, and corners were cut.” The remaining $1.5 million sits in a trust, untouched, raising questions about oversight.
The revelation has sparked outrage on X under #HannityEarhardtScandal, with users slamming the couple. “Promising a dream for kids with Down syndrome and delivering this? Shameful,” one wrote. Another noted, “Sean’s $14.9 million Palm Beach townhome (Yahoo, Feb 2025) looks fancier than this charity house!” Supporters defended them, arguing, “They meant well—give them time to fix it.” Earhardt, a mother of one, has been vocal about special needs advocacy, often citing her faith, while Hannity has a history of charity, like his 2019 veterans’ fundraiser.
Fox News issued a statement: “Sean and Ainsley are committed to the Charity House and are addressing these concerns immediately.” The couple has not commented directly, but sources say they’re “devastated” by the reports and plan to personally fund repairs, including hiring staff by June 15. As the investigation unfolds, this discrepancy has cast a shadow over their charitable legacy, underscoring the gap between public promises and the reality for vulnerable children they aimed to serve.