http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/05/19/1386007/-Four-cancer-charities-scammed-187-million-in-donations-much-of-it-intended-for-kids-with-cancer?detail=email
Some very bad people made one hell of a living off donations intended for cancer research and support:
Let the donor beware: A federal lawsuit alleges four cancer charities have scammed consumers out of more than $187 million.
The Federal Trade Commission and attorneys general in all 50 states and the District of Columbia announced Tuesday they have filed a lawsuit against the Cancer Fund of America, Children's Cancer Fund of America, Cancer Support Services and the Breast Cancer Society alleging they violated federal and state regulations. All four charities are run by members of the same family or their close business associates, as detailed in the 2013 "America's Worst Charities" joint report from the Tampa Bay Times and the Center for Investigative Reporting.
James Reynolds Sr. and family members ran the charities and spent an outrageous amount on themselves:
The charities and their telemarketers often told donors their contributions would be used to provide pain medication to children suffering from cancer, transport cancer patients to chemotherapy appointments, and/or pay for hospice care for cancer patients.
None of it was true.
The individual defendants allegedly hired family members and friends, whether qualified or not, and used the organizations to provide them with steady, lucrative employment.
The sham charities spent more money on salaries than on the goods and services they provided to cancer patients. In addition, the complaint alleges that the defendants spent donations on things like cruises, jet ski outings, concert tickets and dating site memberships — actions that were made possible by corporate boards who rubber-stamped the decisions of the individual defendants.
we need to research before we contribute charity is a two way street. there also needs to be more gov't info on whose the crook and who actually does what it says it will. i have Cancer and thank God i have the VA but those children and others in need of that money to get the help needed being denied because of greed ah there is a special place in hell for those who would be so egregious, despicable them!!! i know we can't help but wonder charities of long standing were they always what they seemed? there will inevitably be someone of power in places where huge amounts of money flow through that would take advantage and reach to far,
we shouldn't let that sour us on donations but it should make us more conscious of who and what we are donating to. those legit charities can also help us distinguish by setting up sites to rate and rank and warn us when it's not reputable.
