Nine charities claim they are owed $370,000 by former AFL footballer and Channel 7 TV host Troy Gray

Nine charities have claimed a former AFL footballer and TV star’s company owes them more than $370k, “significantly” affecting their work. Find out why.

Nine charities from around Australia say they are owed more than $370,000 by former AFL footballer Troy Gray, and have called on him to hand over the proceeds from his defunct Channel 7 TV show.

In a joint statement to The Advertiser, the charities – which aid people living with illness, survivors of exploitation, and animals – say their work has been “significantly” affected by not receiving the money.

They claim to have raised $750,000 through his show, Adventure All-Stars, on the promise of receiving more than half of that as donations, but have yet to see any funds.

“We have been significantly affected by this ordeal and the way Troy Gray and Charity TV Global has not provided us with our agreed amounts,” the charities said.

“This has taken a significant toll on all of our charities as these funds raised go directly to our local communities supporting various areas of people living with illness, domestic violence and animals.

“We want to know – where has this money gone?”

Last week, The Advertiser revealed Mr Gray had lost a default judgment, in the Adelaide Magistrates Court, to WA domestic violence charity Broken Crayons Still Colour.

Broken Crayons said Charity TV Global had yet to pay the $60,000 awarded by the court, which was slated to be used to create its third safe haven for women and child survivors.

In emails and video messages seen by The Advertiser, Mr Gray tells the nine charities repaying them “remains a top priority” and their “full entitlements will be forthcoming”.

“Public smear campaigns have definitely not helped … threats of going to the media and instigating legal action against us continue to be made,” he writes.

“It’s very distressing and deeply hurtful … so please work with us, not against us … we are in this for the long term.”

Former AFL footballer and TV host Troy Gray.

On Friday, Heart Support Australia chief executive Dr Christian Verdicchio claimed his charity was owed $7500, having raised $21,000.

“A lot of time, energy and additional resources was allocated in doing this, to no avail,” he said.

“Mr Gray owes hundreds of thousands of dollars to a range of charities across the country, and we are left with nothing … where has the money gone?”

Racing 2 Rehome President Rebecca Miller said her volunteers raised over $200,000 which was “the highest total in the show’s history”.

She said what “should have been a moment of pride” televised nationally had instead left her charity “heartbroken”.

“To see a year of selfless dedication met with silence – and for the money to never reach the dogs it was raised for – has been truly devastating,” she said.

Last week Mr Gray said his company was in liquidation.

On Friday, Mr Gray said he had “lost my dignity, self worth and ability to earn an income due to ongoing reputational damage”.

He said he had “been open about our situation from the beginning” and “exhausted my children’s trust fund and personal finances to keep Charity TV Global afloat”.

“I kept it alive with every dollar I had, and then with money borrowed from family and friends,” he said.

“Yet this is how it ends – not with compassion, but with condemnation.”

Originally published as Nine charities claim they are owed $370,000 by former AFL footballer and Channel 7 TV host Troy Gray