Chargers charity continues skid

While anticipation mounts regarding the Chargers plan to build a new downtown stadium with a big assist from San Diego city taxpayers, the latest filing of the team's nonprofit foundation shows yet another decline in support for San Diego charities.

As previously reported here, the team-owning Spanos family has long been a consistent laggard when it comes to backing local charitable causes, saving most of its largesse for its home town of Stockton.

Now the latest federal financial disclosure for the team's Chargers Charities, filed with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service late last year, shows that contributions and grants have slipped again, from $466,089 in calendar 2013 to $387,250 in 2014.

Year-end net assets also skidded further, from $107,950 to $83,856.

According to the filing, $38,000 of the money went to running the "Junior Chargers Girls."

"Participants age seven to fifteen perform in front of 65,000+ Charger fans," according to the report.

"The program teaches the participants the importance of raising money for charitable organizations while also teaching teamwork as the girls learn the performance routine from the official Chargers Girls dance team."

Though the current talk of a Chargers downtown subsidy involves city of San Diego money, the team has allotted much of its charity cash to causes beyond the city's limits.

The largest grant, $70,000, went to Rancho Buena Vista High in Vista for its athletic program, the filing says.

Among well-to-do pro-sports alumni of the upscale school is Dodgers manager Dave Roberts,an ex-Padres player and former team coach, recently named to the Breitbard Hall of Fame.

In addition, the school is featured in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater, 2 a video game by the San Diego native.

Holtville High in Holtville got $35,000, as did Del Dios Academy in Escondido. Palmquist Elementary in Oceanside received $25,000.

In San Diego, Wilson Middle School picked up $40,000, Edison Elementary got $30,000, with Monarch School collecting $24,000.

The nonprofit's latest contribution, according to the team's website, is also not in the city. Sweetwater High in National City is the recipient of a $63,000 grant for a "state of the art" weight room.

In keeping with the new high-profile push for the team, which last year sought to depart for Los Angeles, a hefty contingent, including an in-house video crew, was on hand for a media event.

"Tuesday’s unveiling was so important to Denzel Perryman that the linebacker flew in from Miami just to attend," says the website.

“This meant a whole lot to me,” Perryman was quoted as saying. “When I first walked in here, it actually reminded me of when I was in high school. The weights are set up in the same way with the same racks. I started lifting when I got to high school, so it was so important for the Chargers to build this facility for these students.”

Added Perryman, who has a four-year, $4,776,474 contract with the team, "I like to give back, so this opportunity to talk with these kids and show them how to use the equipment was something I didn’t want to miss. The Chargers love this community, and this is one of the ways we show it.”