Disgruntled Son Blows Whistle on Mom's Favorite Charity

A gossip columnist fills in some details about a messy family feud in Florida involving the heirs of the founder of the National Enquirer. 

It's been awhile since we've talked about an estate dispute involving a charity (The Culverhouse Equation, April 11, 2006).  Liz Smith reported in her New York Post column about the lawsuit by Paul Pope, son of Generoso Pope, who started the National Enquirer, against his mother, Lois Pope. 

The charity angle:  Mrs. Pope is the co-founder and current chair of the Disabled Veterans LIFE Memorial Foundation (EIN 52-2098855 Form 990), a charity that is raising money to build a memorial to disabled veterans a couple of blocks from the US Capitol building in Washington DC.  According to the organizations web site, they need to raise the entire $65 million in construction costs before ground will be broken for the project.

Son Paul complained to the Palm Beach Post that the charity is spending money on direct mail marketing as fast as it is raising it.  The organization has sent out 8.5 million pieces and has received about 750,000 donations, averaging $16.58.  About half the donations are from repeat donors.  The organization relies heavily on premiums like coffee mugs, umbrellas, and stadium blankets.  There have also been some successful galas, but not enough to offset the cost of the direct mail program. 

The 2005 Form 990 shows that the organization raised $5.6 million but spent $4 million on mailing materials and $1.3 million on postage, plus an additional half million on professional fundraising fees.  With additional expenses for special events and an office staff of five, the organization lost over $2 million and at the end of 2005 had a negative net worth. 

The Chronicle of Philanthropy reported in their Gifts & Grants section late in 2006 (subscription only, sorry) that Mrs. Pope had injected an additional $5 million into the project, so it remains afloat.  Since her worth is about $190 million (according to Liz Smith), she could even pay for the whole project, if she wanted to. 

It is quite difficult in this era to raise large amounts of money for a new cause relying only on small donations.  Mrs. Pope should consider a major gift program, as soon as possible, and possibly an affiliation with a national consumer brand.  A local chapter structure for fundraising might have made sense, but it's too late to start one now. 

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[バーバリーマフラー]

ところが、十津川村野尻では増水した川が村営住宅２棟をのみ込んで２家族が流され、五條市大塔町宇井では多数の行方不明者が出ていたことなどから、川上村の被害が広く知られることはなかった
今も現場は土砂に覆われたままだが、迂回（うかい）路も通り、土砂の除去も少しずつだが進む。管轄の吉野土木事務所は「来年４月中旬ごろをめどに、崩落箇所に仮の橋をつくり通行できるようにしたい」としている。
こうした復興のつち音は響いているものの、観光への風評被害は続く。村の観光の中心でもある「ホテル杉の湯」などは通常通り営業しているが、迂回部分に立地するため見逃されがち。

[ティンバーランド]

ティンバーランド堺市北区の象印マホービン元副社長、尾崎宗秀さん（８４）が自宅で襲われ殺害された事件で、尾崎さんが発見される約２時間前、自宅周辺を黒の原付きバイクで往復する不審な男が目撃されていたことが、捜査関係者への取材で分かった。数日前から近所の複数の住民らも目撃しており、大阪府警はこの男が尾崎さん殺害に関与したとみている。

　ティンバーランド捜査関係者によると、尾崎さんは１日午前１０時２０分ごろ、自宅２階の納戸で顔を粘着テープなどで巻かれ、両手足を結束バンドで縛られた状態で発見された。目撃情報は午前８時前後で、通行人が尾崎さん方の周りを走る不審なバイクの男を見ていた。男は黒っぽい服装で、ヘルメットをかぶっていたという。