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Kars4Kids

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Kars4Kids is a car donation organization that is under investigation by the NY DA's office [1][2][dubious – discuss]. It is headquartered in Lakewood, New Jersey. It operates in 49 states. Donations to Kars4Kids benefit the Haradei (ultra-rightwing) Orthodox Jewish missionary organization Oorah organization (Joy for Our Youth or J.O.Y.), a national organization that claims to address the "educational, material, emotional and spiritual needs of Jewish children and their families".[3] J.O.Y. is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization established in 2000.[4] Oorah has been accused of and is under investigation for tax evasion.[5][dubious – discuss]

Fraud allegations

There have been numerous allegations that Kars4Kids and Oorah, both run by Eliyahu Mintz, have deceived donors,[6][7]. The RipOffReport exposed how the Lakewood-based Haredi "charity" uses deceptive advertising, bad charity practices, and even apparent trademark Infringement. [8][better source needed]. The organization was also accused of non-payment of wages for work done in its camp in Jefferson, New York[9].

Allegations of money laundering

In 2009, The Newark Star Ledger alleging that Kars4Kids engaged in money laundering.[10]. The story was refuted by Kars4Kids on the Jewish Orthodox website Matzav, where Oorah buys advertising[11][12].

Controversies and criticism

Use of donations for promotion of religion or for a religious organization

Mary Murphy of New York City's Channel 11 news prepared a story on Oorah's "Kars4Kids" fund-raising division's lack of disclosure of the religious nature of its programs in its radio and billboard advertising.[13] The report was criticized by some local Jewish residents as yellow journalism.[14]

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that "what is left unsaid [in Kars4Kids' radio advertising], and what also is conspicuously absent from the charity's Web site, is that almost all money raised through the Kars4Kids charity goes to a Lakewood, N. J.-based program set up to pay for private schooling and other educational programs. It aims to bring Jewish schoolchildren and adults closer to their heritage." The article also cites a 2004 Better Business Bureau report that criticizes Kars4Kids and Joy for Our Youth, another Oorah subsidiary, for its charity accountability standards.[15]

The Kars4Kids' website has since been modified to disclose its affiliation with Oorah and that the organization's purpose is to provide "for the spiritual, emotional and practical needs of Jewish children".[16] The statement is difficult to locate because it occurs on one of the minor pages of the site, and is not displayed on the website's landing page.

Joy for Our Youth paid $65,000 in fines in Pennsylvania[17] and Kars4Kids paid $65,000 in fines in Oregon[18] in settlements reached with the respective state attorneys general as a result of the attorneys general contending that the organization had to more clearly state that the beneficiaries were primarily Jewish children. The organization has said that litigation costs to fight these actions would have cost the organization far more money. People involved with the group have also said that other charities have not been asked to similarly state when funds were used for specific religious groups.

Jingle

The organization spoofed its own jingle in July, 2009 in a contest fronted by Warner Bros. recording artists The Good Rats.[19][20] Participants in the contest included Mark Radice, the Emmy-nominated writer for such shows as Sesame Street and J.R., front-man for the horror-punk-rock act Rosemary's Babies.[21]

Cockrum donation

The estate of comicbook artist Dave Cockrum donated hundreds of comics from Cockrum's personal collection to the organization.[22] but Paty Cockrum, the widow of the late artist, later noted that she regretted the contribution in light of the "so-called charity scamming so many people."[23][citation needed]

Publicity: Coats-for-the-Needy program

Kars4Kids distributed thousands of brand-new winter coats with the Newark, NJ Bears' staff and the Bears' mascot Ruppert for publicity.[24]

Publicity: Literacy program

Kars4Kids had a one-day "literacy program" in 2010 that was never again repeated.[citation needed] Seton Hall University was the recipient of a full 73-volume Talmudic library as part of the program.[25]

Publicity Program: Back-to-school Program

For publicity, in August 2012, Kars4kids gave-away backpacks in New York that they had received for free from Gifts In Kind. With the help of local politicians, Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito, Congressman Ed Towns, Councilman Ruben Wills and NYCHA Chairman John Rhea, over 3000 backpacks[26] were distributed.

References

  1. ^ http://www.wnyc.org/blogs/azi-paybarah/2010/jun/15/charities-under-investigation-nys-attorney-general/
  2. ^ http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303815404577335632625450886.html
  3. ^ http://www.kars4kids.org/charity/impact.asp
  4. ^ http://www.kars4kids.org/joy.htm
  5. ^ http://www.watershedpost.com/tags/oorah
  6. ^ http://www.dailyfinance.com/2009/11/20/kars4kids-steers-donors-in-the-wrong-direction/
  7. ^ http://www.startribune.com/local/136191368.html?refer=y
  8. ^ http://www.ripoffreport.com/bait-and-switch/kars4kids-oorah-joy/kars4kids-oorah-joy-suppose-fcw34.htm
  9. ^ http://www.app.com/article/20101118/NEWS/11180375/Workers-stage-protest-over-lost-wages-outside-Oorah-company-in-Lakewood?gcheck=1
  10. ^ http://bx.businessweek.com/madoff/view?url=http%3A%2F%2Ffailedmessiah.typepad.com%2Ffailed_messiahcom%2F2009%2F12%2Fmassive-money-laundering-ponzi-scheme-ensnares-oorah-kars4kids-789.html
  11. ^ "Kars4Kids to Matzav: Star Ledger Story is False". Matzav. 13, December 2009. Retrieved 11 February 2013. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ "Kars 4 Kids Response to Allegations in Local Paper". 13, December 2009. lakewoodlocal.com. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  13. ^ Mary Murphy's Fact Finders - Kars4Kids
  14. ^ Yeshiva World News Open Letter To Channel 11 After Oorah Smear-Campaign Goes Bad, February 15, 2008
  15. ^ St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Radio jingle is catchy -- and it may catch you, December 21, 2005
  16. ^ kars4kids.org
  17. ^ The (Pottstown, Pa.) Mercury, Nonprofits for kids accused of misleading donors, January 30, 2009
  18. ^ (Medford, Oregon) Mail Tribune, Charity misled donors, AG says, April 15, 2009
  19. ^ http://garagerockradio.blogspot.com/2009/08/good-rats-and-kars4kids.html
  20. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnyrxiV_jTA
  21. ^ http://www.prurgent.com/2009-07-27/pressrelease47857.htm
  22. ^ http://www.comicmix.com/news/2009/12/08/dave-cockrum-estate-donates-hundreds-of-comics-to-charity/
  23. ^ public statement by Mrs. Cockrum at NY ComicCon
  24. ^ http://www.baseballamerica.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4128122
  25. ^ http://www.shu.edu/news/article/301870
  26. ^ http://www.nyc.gov/html/nycha/html/news/nycha-chairman-john-rhea-ruben-wills-kars4kids-backpack-giveaway.shtml
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