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2006/8/26Kars-4-Kids Alleged Charity Scam?
Tags: Charity Scam Chirldren Donations Cars
@ 03:16 AM (18 months, 8 days ago) NAPERVILLE, Ill. A very catchy radio jingle features children singing, “1-877-Kars-4-Kids, donate your car today.” But the charity has caught the attention of law enforcement authorities who are investigating one of the largest alleged car donation scams in U.S. history.
The Illinois State Police team of investigators uncovered hundreds of documents tying Kars-4-Kids to unlicensed towing companies in Illinois.
The documents were discovered in January when ICC police raided towing companies in Naperville and Wheeling, IL. The raids followed a CBS 2/Naperville Sun investigation that exposed felons running towing operations and profiting from charity car donations. The series of reports exposed how the operations O’Hare Kars and Royal Auto and Towing stiffed 187 different charities out of at least 4,237 donated cars worth millions of dollars.
During the January raid, investigators found records that hundreds of vehicles had been towed for Kars-4-Kids. The charity’s cooperation was needed to help police, but that hasn’t happened.
Kars-4-Kids refused to investigators or anyone else for that matter. You would think if there was no wrong doing on their part, they would at least try and clear up what could be a misunderstanding.
“I was trying to do something good but that is not the way it turned out,” she said.
In October, after hearing the radio jingle, an Illinois woman donated a Chrysler Concorde to Kars-4-Kids. The next time she saw the vehicle, it was on TV, during CBS 2’s story about the police raid about the cars and the charity. Appartently, they were operating illegally and shut down following the raid. Now the woman is not sure who profited from her vehicle donation.
According to the news investigation she was shocked in part because the men running the two towing companies, hired by Kars-4-Kids, not only are accused of keeping money meant for charity, but also are convicted felons.
The people behind the towing company were cited by Illinois Secretary of State Police for running an unlicensed dealership. Police say the company also was towing charity cars without proper permits. Its public carrier status has been temporarily revoked.
Another man was cited with more than 600 charges by Police for violations in its handling of donated vehicles. The company lacked a public carrier permit to haul donated cars. Hearings were held, but police say the man failed to show up, so the company’s towing permits were revoked.
In the meantime, tow trucks were seized by a federal bankruptcy court trustee and its Naperville and Wheeling locations have since shut down.
The woman says she was appalled to hear Kars-4-Kids would not cooperate with police investigating the illegal towing and sale of donated cars.
“If you have nothing to hide, why wouldn’t you help?” she says.
Police agree, saying that in addition to making 24 phone calls, the agency sent three letters to the charity and received no cooperation. After months of trying to reach the charity, a spokesman this week finally returned a call to police. The spokesperson from Kars-4-Kids claims they were not aware police and reporters were trying to contact them and that they would now cooperate with authorities. They also claim the charity severed ties with the two towing companies.
But there is one more group that would like cooperation from Kars-4-Kids.
“Nobody returns your phone call. Nobody will answer your questions,” says Betsy Conway, who runs a local charity with the same name.
“They are Kars-4-Kids with a K and we are Cars for Kids with a C,” Conway says.
Conway’s group is based in Illinois and donates its money to local children’s charities. The other Kars-4-Kids is based in New Jersey. It funnels its money to private Jewish education and outreach.
Conway says her organization has received as many as five complaints in a week regarding Kars-4-Kids. The calls are from donors who typically complain about not getting receipts and critical tax records from the New Jersey charity.
“It’s a high complaint rate,” says Conway. “We have a lot of problems with this group.”
Car donations are a big business. Landau from Kars-4-Kids says so far this year the charity has collected 25,000 vehicles nationwide. The CBS 2/Sun investigation has requested access to Kars-4-Kids financial records and a complete list of its current towing companies but the charity has yet to turn over that information.
There are hundreds of charities that also have vehicle donation programs. After the CBS 2/Sun investigation, Illinois lawmakers took action to better protect the donors and charities. A new state law will take effect in January requiring full disclosure of who profits from a donated car. It also bans felons from acting as car donation middlemen.
Police believe the law will help police stop unscrupulous car donation collectors.
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Monday, February 25, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Car Donation - Donate a Car - Car donations to Charity
Travolta and Preston Raise Funds for Premature Babies
February 18, 2008 by Myrlia Purcell
John Travolta
Kelly Preston John Travolta and his wife, Kelly Preston, helped raise over $1 million for St Vincent’s HealthCare Foundation in Jacksonville, Florida, on Friday.
The pair attended the Foundation’s 27th Annual Red Rose Ball, the oldest charity ball in Jacksonville. The 2008 black-tie event began with cocktails, followed by dinner. Silent and live auctions featured memorabilia signed by Travolta.
The proceeds from this year’s event are going towards the renovation of the neonatal intensive care unit within Marcia C. and Ricardo Morales, Jr. Infant Nursery at St. Vincent’s .
“John Travolta is a very philanthropic man,” said the actor’s lead attorney and Red Rose Ball Honorary Co-Chair, Michael Ossi, Esq. “More than anything, John wants to help the infants of Florida. He cares deeply about children, and is determined to help St. Vincent’s build this neonatal unit.”
The unit will provide 11 beds for premature infants and babies at risk of serious complications.
“St. Vincent’s has a history of providing some of the best care for our tiniest patients, including those little treasures delivered ahead of an expected due date,” said Jane R. Lanier, CFRE, Senior Vice President and Executive Director of St. Vincent’s HealthCare Foundation. “We are grateful for every gift, which will help to assure that these tiny miracles are cared for in the most loving way and sent home happy and well with their families.”
February 18, 2008 by Myrlia Purcell
John Travolta
Kelly Preston John Travolta and his wife, Kelly Preston, helped raise over $1 million for St Vincent’s HealthCare Foundation in Jacksonville, Florida, on Friday.
The pair attended the Foundation’s 27th Annual Red Rose Ball, the oldest charity ball in Jacksonville. The 2008 black-tie event began with cocktails, followed by dinner. Silent and live auctions featured memorabilia signed by Travolta.
The proceeds from this year’s event are going towards the renovation of the neonatal intensive care unit within Marcia C. and Ricardo Morales, Jr. Infant Nursery at St. Vincent’s .
“John Travolta is a very philanthropic man,” said the actor’s lead attorney and Red Rose Ball Honorary Co-Chair, Michael Ossi, Esq. “More than anything, John wants to help the infants of Florida. He cares deeply about children, and is determined to help St. Vincent’s build this neonatal unit.”
The unit will provide 11 beds for premature infants and babies at risk of serious complications.
“St. Vincent’s has a history of providing some of the best care for our tiniest patients, including those little treasures delivered ahead of an expected due date,” said Jane R. Lanier, CFRE, Senior Vice President and Executive Director of St. Vincent’s HealthCare Foundation. “We are grateful for every gift, which will help to assure that these tiny miracles are cared for in the most loving way and sent home happy and well with their families.”
CAR DONATION - WWW.ONLINECARDONATION.ORG - TOLL FREE 1(888)228-7320
Charity is said to be one of the best thighs a man can do to help those people who are in need or people who are sick and old. Even a little contribution can help those needy people even the contribution is in the form of items or money. One of the main advantages of donating a car is that instead of selling it one can donate it for charity.???? There are several methods to make a donation as there are many non profit organizations and charitable foundations which help people to make donations. One such company is oNLINECARDONATION.ORG which specializes in car donations which can be a boat, motorcycle or any other vehicle which is no more useful for the donor. ??
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JANIS SPIRE ALLIANCE FOR CHILDREN'S RIGHTS
Hollywood dollars vital to charities
October 28, 2007
Hollywood raises millions for charitable causes, such as AIDS research, multiple sclerosis, autism, breast cancer and literacy.So nonprofit groups like Spire's would suffer a blow in the event of a strike. Spire estimates that her organization, which provides free legal, educational and social services to L.A. County's at-risk children, raises more than $1 million a year from Hollywood, more than one-third of the Alliance's total donations.
Trouble in Tinseltown
"These already underserved children are one of the most tragic examples of who would suffer first," said Spire, the group's executive director. "When there's a crisis, philanthropy goes before jobs get cut."
Hollywood dollars vital to charities
October 28, 2007
Hollywood raises millions for charitable causes, such as AIDS research, multiple sclerosis, autism, breast cancer and literacy.So nonprofit groups like Spire's would suffer a blow in the event of a strike. Spire estimates that her organization, which provides free legal, educational and social services to L.A. County's at-risk children, raises more than $1 million a year from Hollywood, more than one-third of the Alliance's total donations.
Trouble in Tinseltown
"These already underserved children are one of the most tragic examples of who would suffer first," said Spire, the group's executive director. "When there's a crisis, philanthropy goes before jobs get cut."
Car Donation - Donate a car - Charitable Donation - Car donations
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DONATION – CAR DONATION - BOAT DONATION - BOAT DONATION - BOAT DONATIONS - BOAT DONATIONS - CAR DONATIONS - CAR DONATIONS - ANTIQUE DONATION - DONATE ANTIQUES - DONATE A CAR - TRUCK DONATIONS - DONATE BOAT - DONATE JETSKI - DONATE CLASSIC CAR - CLASSIC CAR DONATIONS - CHARITABLE DONATION - CHARITABLE DONATIONS - RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION - REAL ESTATE DONATION –
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Complaint accuses Nuñez of misusing charity
In a filing with the ethics panel, a foundation says the Assembly speaker used funds given to a nonprofit for political purposes. He denies the claim.
By Nancy Vogel and Evan Halper, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
January 23, 2008
SACRAMENTO -- A complaint filed with state ethics officials Tuesday accused Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez of using a charity to illegally funnel donations into political activities.
The complaint cites more than $270,000 that Nuñez solicited in 2005 and 2006 from corporations, utilities and other interests with a stake in legislation to pay for toy giveaways, scholarships, youth summits and other events that featured Nuñez and were arranged by his staff.
The donations were the subject of a Times investigation in November, which showed how a small charity -- Collective Space -- in Nuñez's downtown Los Angeles district wrote checks at the direction of the speaker's staff for events that benefited his constituents.
In a complaint filed with the Fair Political Practices Commission, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights accused Nuñez of dodging state restrictions on campaign donations by asking donors to give to the nonprofit, then using the money for his political benefit.
"The speaker and Collective Space claim it was only a 'conduit' for the speaker's funds," wrote foundation Executive Director Doug Heller in the complaint. "If this is the case, the contributions were never intended for the charity and should be considered direct donations to the speaker and his events."
Heller asked the ethics panel to either punish Nuñez or close "a glaring loophole" in state campaign finance rules.
The Fair Political Practices Commission has 14 days to determine if it will investigate the complaint or request more time to do so.
Nuñez said the complaint misinterprets the law. He called the allegations "a huge stretch from where reality is of what law allows a member of the Legislature to do."
"People can file complaints every day of the week about whatever they want to file complaints about," said Nuñez, adding that there was nothing illegal or unethical about his work with Collective Space.
Under a 1997 state law, politicians must file public reports whenever donors give to non-campaign causes at the politician's request. Such donations are not presumed to be gifts or campaign donations, according to the law, if made "principally for charitable purposes."
In its complaint, the foundation argued that the money Nuñez solicited for Collective Space should be considered campaign contributions because charity officials had no involvement in deciding how to spend the donations and the money was spent to highlightNuñez's political profile.
The donations Nuñez solicited for the charity ranged from $2,500 to $50,000. At least six of the 20 donors -- Blue Cross of California, California Correctional Peace Officers' Assn., Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, Southern California Gas Co. and Zenith Insurance -- also gave the maximum $6,600 to Nuñez's political committee.
nancy.vogel@latimes.com
evan.halper@latimes.com
In a filing with the ethics panel, a foundation says the Assembly speaker used funds given to a nonprofit for political purposes. He denies the claim.
By Nancy Vogel and Evan Halper, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
January 23, 2008
SACRAMENTO -- A complaint filed with state ethics officials Tuesday accused Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez of using a charity to illegally funnel donations into political activities.
The complaint cites more than $270,000 that Nuñez solicited in 2005 and 2006 from corporations, utilities and other interests with a stake in legislation to pay for toy giveaways, scholarships, youth summits and other events that featured Nuñez and were arranged by his staff.
The donations were the subject of a Times investigation in November, which showed how a small charity -- Collective Space -- in Nuñez's downtown Los Angeles district wrote checks at the direction of the speaker's staff for events that benefited his constituents.
In a complaint filed with the Fair Political Practices Commission, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights accused Nuñez of dodging state restrictions on campaign donations by asking donors to give to the nonprofit, then using the money for his political benefit.
"The speaker and Collective Space claim it was only a 'conduit' for the speaker's funds," wrote foundation Executive Director Doug Heller in the complaint. "If this is the case, the contributions were never intended for the charity and should be considered direct donations to the speaker and his events."
Heller asked the ethics panel to either punish Nuñez or close "a glaring loophole" in state campaign finance rules.
The Fair Political Practices Commission has 14 days to determine if it will investigate the complaint or request more time to do so.
Nuñez said the complaint misinterprets the law. He called the allegations "a huge stretch from where reality is of what law allows a member of the Legislature to do."
"People can file complaints every day of the week about whatever they want to file complaints about," said Nuñez, adding that there was nothing illegal or unethical about his work with Collective Space.
Under a 1997 state law, politicians must file public reports whenever donors give to non-campaign causes at the politician's request. Such donations are not presumed to be gifts or campaign donations, according to the law, if made "principally for charitable purposes."
In its complaint, the foundation argued that the money Nuñez solicited for Collective Space should be considered campaign contributions because charity officials had no involvement in deciding how to spend the donations and the money was spent to highlightNuñez's political profile.
The donations Nuñez solicited for the charity ranged from $2,500 to $50,000. At least six of the 20 donors -- Blue Cross of California, California Correctional Peace Officers' Assn., Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, Southern California Gas Co. and Zenith Insurance -- also gave the maximum $6,600 to Nuñez's political committee.
nancy.vogel@latimes.com
evan.halper@latimes.com
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