Most of the fact-finding organizations - Truthorfiction.com, Snopes.com and the urban legends division of the information website About.com - and an article in The Dallas Morning News, all say the same thing: Partly true, partly false.
Washington did visit the Brooke Army Medical Center at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio in December 2004, the fact-finding groups say, and took part in a ceremony awarding several Purple Hearts.
He also toured the center's Fisher House, which provides a no-cost or low-cost "home away from home" for military families to be close to a loved one during hospitalization, according to the Fisher House website.
Because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, Snopes.com reported, the Fisher House facilities were over capacity when Washington visited. He expressed an interest in helping.
David Emery, urban legends researcher for About.com, was told by a Fisher House Foundation spokesman that Washington pledged "a substantial donation," but did not write a check for the amount it would cost to build an entire house.
The actor also did not spontaneously take out his checkbook and write a check as the email claims, according to Snopes.com, a nonpartisan website that confirms or debunks rumors and urban legends.
"He seldom carries a checkbook," said Fisher House President David Coker.
James Weiskopf, vice president of communications at the foundation, speculated to Emery what led to the confusion. Shortly after Washington's pledge, there was an announcement that a new $1.5 million Fisher House was going to be built. People probably just assumed the new house was the result of Washington's donation.
Four months later, according to nonpartisan Truthorfiction.com, Washington came through with his donation.
Weiskopf would say only that the donation was one of the largest in the organization's history, Truthorfiction.com reported. Washington also agreed to serve on the Fisher House board of trustees, he said.
Snopes.com points out Washington's reputation for philanthropy.
Fact Check Actor didn dramatically whip out checkbook but was generous...
×