Two Men Charged In Alleged 9/11 Charity Scam

Two men have been indicted for allegedly operating a bogus 9/11 charity, New Jersey Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa announced today.

Mark Niemczyk and Thomas Scalgione were indicted Friday on third-degree charges of conspiracy and theft by deception. The two men operated a pick-up truck from which they operated a charity that was supposed to raise money for the victims of the 9/11 attacks or related charities. The men allegedly sold t-shirts and collected donation at 9/11 events. The funds they raised -- in excess of $50,000 -- never made it to victims' families or 9/11 charities as promised, according to Chiesa.

“It’s a sad reality that in the wake of a devastating tragedy, when so many want to help, there are always parasites who view the tragedy and the generosity of others as nothing more than the opportunity and the means to turn a crooked profit for themselves,” said Chiesa.

The state alleges that Niemczyk and Scalgione, who registered their operation with the state, took all of their proceeds and deposited it into their personal bank accounts to pay for unrelated expenses. As a result of their alleged fraud, the two men were able to purchase the t-shirts they sold at a discounted rate by telling vendors that the proceeds from their sales would benefit victims' families. One vendor gave discounts totaling $3,312, and another gave discounts totaling $1,378.

Elie Honig, director of the New Jersey Division of Criminal Justice, also alleges that the men told other lies in the name of donations. Niemczyk allegedly claimed that he was a Navy SEAL who did three tours of duty in Vietnam, and that he and Scalgione were father-and-son firefighters who were working at a firehouse near the World Trade Center on 9/11.

“Their conduct was outrageous, and we urge any victims who donated money or bought T-shirts from these con artists to contact us,” said Honig.

The charges against Niemczyk and Scaligione stem from an investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice Financial & Computer Crimes Bureau. The criminal investigation began with a referral from the Division of Consumer Affairs, which in November secured a final consent judgment in a civil action, under which the men must pay a total of more than $200,000, representing disgorgement of donations and payment of civil penalties, attorneys’ fees and investigative costs. The judgment bars the men from ever working for any charitable organization in New Jersey should they be convicted.

You can read the full indictment on the state of New Jersey's website.

How A Hobby Became An Online Mission

Can you imagine spending 2 hours every day compiling articles and information about the September 11th attacks?  That's what Arnie Korotkin has been doing since the attacks on that fateful day.  Korotkin, who is an adjunct professor of sociology at Montclair State University in New Jersey, is the creator of the largest 9/11 list-serve in the country. Every day, he collects news articles about anything related to the terrorist attacks and sends them to his mailing list. 

Korotkin's "labor of love" all started when he worked as a director of community building at the United Way of Passaic County.  He was working with a woman who had just lost her husband due to the attacks, and he offered to send her information and services that might help her.  Her e-mail was the first of thousands that would subscribe to his daily 9/11 updates.

In trying times, sometimes the smallest gestures can mean the most.  This is certainly the case with Arnie Korotkin's e-mail list.  When you get the chance, please take a moment to read this story on our website.  You can also subscribe to Korotkin's mailing list by e-mailing him at AMKorotkin@aol.com.

Philanthropic Giving After 9/11

Yesterday was a solemn day for our country.  As we honored the lives of those lost on 9/11, we had to once again relive those horrifying images from 10 years ago.  There were some positives we were able to take from that day, however.  We remembered the brave work of the First Responders at Ground Zero, how we united as a country, and the re-ignition of philanthropic giving.  That last point was something that was covered in the most recent issue of The NonProfit Times.

Nearly $2.6 billion was raised following the attacks, creating a turning point for philanthropy in response to large-scale disasters.  Following 9/11, Americans continued to give generously when these disasters took place, whether it was the Gulf Coast hurricanes in 2005, or the Asian tsunami in 2004.  As long as donors were sure their money was going to where it is supposed to be going, they seemed to have no qualms about giving large amounts of cash.

That was one of the lessons learned following 9/11.  The Red Cross came under heavy criticism when it was learned that money raised from the Liberty Fund--set up to collect donations in the wake of September 11th--would also be used to prepare for other major disasters.  This was eventually changed due to massive public pressure, creating a lesson that future charities heeded. 

If you want to learn more about giving post-9/11, check out the full article on that subject on our website.

9/11 10th Anniversary Thoughts

It's hard to believe that Sunday will be the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.  It doesn't feel like it's been that long.  We can still vividly remember where we were on that fateful day as though it happened just yesterday.  We've been commemorating the thousands of lives lost that day ever since, but there's something about the number 10 that makes it more meaningful.   

Perhaps it's because the World Trade Center Memorial will finally be opened.  As was reported in the most recent issue of The NonProfit Times, fundraising for the memorial was up by almost one-third last year, which certainly helped in its completion.  The opening ceremony at Ground Zero is sure to be a moving event, though it remains shameful that the first responders were not invited.  If we are to properly honor the past, shouldn't they be there?

The day should still be memorable despite this disservice.  Whether you plan to watch the Ground Zero ceremony, watch the Jets play their home opener, or something else entirely, make sure you take a moment to remember those who lost their lives 10 years ago.  It's the least we can do.

The NonProfit Times Remembers 9/11

This coming September 11th will be the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.  To commemorate this event, the just released September 1st issue of The NonProfit Times contains 9/11-related articles.  Here is what you can expect to find in the latest issue:

Articles:

• "Sites Rush To Complete September 11 Memorials"-As the title suggests, this article focuses on the various 9/11 memorials that are being worked on, including the Flight 93 National Memorial.
• "Toll Of War On Terror Taken On Military"-The September 11th attacks spured our nation to war in Afghanistan, and then into Iraq.  This article tells the story of how veterans of these wars are coping as the 10th anniversary of tha attacks approach.
• "Outpouring Of 9/11 Financial Support Slowed In A Few Months"-Although giving surged in the days and weeks after the attacks, this trend did not last for long.

Columns:

• "Bounced"-Our editor-in-chief, Paul Clolery, wonders why 9/11 first responders were not invited to Ground Zero this year.
• "Safety Blueprint"-Melanie Lockwood Herman, executive director of the Nonprofit Risk Management Center, gives tips on how to increase safety at your workplace.

Check out this special edition of The NonProfit Times on our website.

Arab American Philanthropy On The Rise

Philanthropy among Arab Americans is increasing, according to a report in New America Media; and The Center for Arab American Philanthropy (CAAP) is a big part of that increase.  The Dearborn, Mich.-based group, which is a project of the Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS), is the first national giving program in the Arab American community.  This doesn't mean that philanthropy is a foreign subject to this group, however.  The article notes that charity is something that has long been stressed by the Arab culture.  For example, there is an Islamic tradition known as Zakat, that requires followers to set aside a portion of their income for those in need.

Nonprofits like ACCESS, which was formed in 2005, have been very important for the Arab community in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks.  They have sought to fight the negative perception of Islam that some Americans had after the deadly attacks.  Kate Casa, director of communications at ACCESS, says that many in her community were reluctant to participate in public philanthropy for fear of being accused of supporting extremist groups.  To combat this fear, ACCESS has created a system of transparency.

To read the full article, including details on the organizations that received CAAP grants, head on over to New America Media.

9/11 Widows Join Nonprofit For Families Of Fallen Soldiers

Those who lost loved ones on 9/11 might know about the pain of loss more than anyone.  That's why it should be of no surprise that two of the board members of the newly created Massachusetts Military Heroes Funds are 9/11 widows.  The Eveningtribune.com published a report on these two individuals, Christie Coombs and Cindy McGinty, and why they decided to join the organization, which is dedicated to providing support to families who have lost loved ones to war.  The group relies on private donations, and also receives a percentage of revenue from the sale of United We Stand licence plates.

In the story, Coombs said she felt it was natural for her and other 9/11 families to be involved in this project, when the office of the late Senator Ted Kennedy approached her and other families to create the organization in 2009.  Combs lost her husband Jeff, who was aboard the flight which crashed into the World Trade Center back on the fateful September day.  She said her experience dealing with loss motivated her to do something good for other families.  McGinty, the other 9/11 widow on the board, lost her husband Mike, who worked in the Twin Towers.

With the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaching, it's good to read stories like this. We would also like to remind you that the September 1st issue of The NonProfit Times will feature a Special Report on the anniversary, so keep an eye out on our site for that.  You can read the rest of the story on these two widows on Eveningtribune.com.