ACORN (not rated by us), a community organizing group, is reported to have had approximately $1 million "embezzled" about 8 years ago. The leadership of the organization chose to tell no one, not even their Board of Directors. In fact, it is reported that they even had the person involved in the embezzlement on payroll up until June of this year! After 8 years of cover-up, in May of this year, a whistle blower "forced ACORN to disclose the embezzlement".
The Points of Light Institute (which we give a four star rating), that promotes volunteerism and citizen activism, is reported to have had bogus travel packages auctioned off on eBay by an independent contractor. The organization found out about the problem in May of this year when they got complaints from people who had not received vouchers for their travel packages. The Points of Light Institute immediately jumped into action:
- They stopped the travel auctions immediately.
- They contacted everyone who had bought the travel packages.
- They have begun to repay people who bought the packages and hope to pay off all of them.
- They posted information on their Web site about the problem.
- They contacted the US Attorney's Office.
ACORN has explained its withholding of information as a concern that their critics would use the information against them if it was found out. How much worse will it be for them now, than if they had owned up to it at the time??
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3 comments:
Excellent points, Mr. Berger. I'd think we'd all have learned by now that getting out in front of a scandal by confronting it, rooting it out, and righting any wrongs is just smart policy. People not only forgive quickly if you just fess up, but give you credit for having the integrity to admit it. Given ACORN's role in encouraging all the bad mortgage lending practices that helped lead us into this enormous housing mess, it's one more strike against them that they engage in exactly the sorts of cover-ups they long accused banks and mortgage lenders of doing. (And no, I am not employed by that industry.)
Acorn, this is the group that has close ties with Barack Obama. Now I know what community organizers do.
I never though ACORN will do such things. I really had a nice impression about ACORN. I think its not only end with the travel packages. They might also have their participation in mortage lending also.
Thanks
Collin paul
HowMuchHomeCanIAfford.org
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