| I just realized I never posted this here |
[Aug. 8th, 2008|04:22 pm] |
Someone on one of the JumpCon lists found these articles last week.
March 23, 2004
Questions raised about Manchester-area charity
Author: MARK HAYWARD Union Leader Staff
Edition: State
Section: Local
Page: B2
Article Text:
MANCHESTER -- A Manchester-based organization that is asking retailers
for donations is not properly registered with the state, according to
an official with the New Hampshire Attorney General's Office.
The organization -- Benefits for Humanity International -- is asking
merchants to buy a square on "The Game of Manchester," a gameboard
similar to Parker Brothers' "Monopoly" with familiar Manchester
landmarks and businesses. Proceeds will go toward computers for needy
children in Manchester, according to a solicitation letter.
Terry Knowles, registrar with the Division of Charitable Trusts at the
New Hampshire Attorney General's Office, said an application that
Benefits for Humanity filed on Feb. 5 lacks a number of key items,
including financial information and confirmation of a bank account.
If the organization is soliciting donations, it is breaking state law, she said.
"We don't have the information a consumer would need to make an
intelligent choice about giving," Knowles said.
An official with the organization was not available late yesterday to
respond to Knowles' remarks. Earlier in the day, Shane Senter
identified himself as the president of the group and said its
international headquarters is at 816 Hanover St.
"We're looking for locally owned businesses, we prefer them," Senter
said. "They help stimulate the economy, the local businesses do, and
that's what we're here for.
"We're not here to be a drain on the local economy like most service
clubs. We have eight grant writers to raise our money . . . but we're
hoping to get some community awareness with the game," he added.
Several questions remain unanswered about the organization. In an
undated letter to merchants, the organization said it hopes to provide
computers "to children in need of them and hopefully to all the grade
school children in your community."
Manchester school Superintendent Michael Ludwell said he has never met
or spoken to anyone in the organization. A letter may have crossed his
desk, but he does not recall it.
Given that between 6,000 and 7,000 grade-school students are enrolled
in city schools, the organization would have to raise a substantial
amount of money to meet its goal, Ludwell said.
"You think I would have gotten a phone call," Ludwell said. Ludwell
said he would never participate in such a fundraiser unless he
discussed it beforehand with the business community.
Senter said he sent a letter to the school department but hasn't heard
back from anybody.
He also said "we're buying a few things" on the "wish list" for the
city library. Senter said he spoke to "the main gentleman" at the
library. John Brisbin said he's never heard of the organization.
Senter said his group is a 501(c)3 foundation, which gives it
tax-exempt status with the IRS. But the organization's Web site --
www.bfhic.org -- contains only a copy of its application for 501(c)3
status. As of Feb. 5, it did not have tax-exempt status, Knowles said.
Senter volunteered the names of several businesses that have bought
squares on the game board.
Glenn Krull, owner of Glenn's Maytag Home Appliance Center, confirmed
he bought a corner square, which Benefits for Humanity sells for $319.
Krull said he paid for the square by check on March 1. He said he
spoke to the group before sending the money but said he did not want
to discuss the conversation.
Knowles said a charitable organization must have its own bank account
under state law. But in its Feb. 5 application, Benefits for Humanity
said it had been unable to open a bank account.
If the organization continues to solicit, the Charitable Trusts
Division will contact Benefits for Humanity again, Knowles said. The
attorney general has the power to issue a civil subpoena and take an
organization to Superior Court if it continues to solicit without
being registered, she said.
-- Union Leader reporter John Clayton contributed to this report.
NewsBank Search
Charity will return money if asked
BYLINE: MARK HAYWARD Union Leader Staff
DATE: March 25, 2004
PUBLICATION: New Hampshire Union Leader (Manchester, NH)
EDITION: State
SECTION: News
PAGE: A20
MANCHESTER -- A Manchester organization stopped accepting charitable
donations Tuesday while it attempted to sort out its legal status, the
organization's president said yesterday.
Shane Senter, president of Benefits for Humanity International, also
said he would refund earlier contributions if requested. On Tuesday,
The Union Leader reported that the group was soliciting donations to
launch a "Game of Manchester" board game but had not been properly
registered with the Charitable Trust Division of the Attorney
General's Office.
"If they (donors) don't want to be involved in this, that's fine,"
Senter said. "They want their money back, they'll get their money
back."
Yesterday, Senter said he was close to being properly registered with
the Charitable Trusts Division and planned to hold a press conference
next week.
Terry Knowles, registrar of the Charitable Trusts Division, said only
one holdup remains before the organization is properly registered. Its
board of directors must adopt a conflict of interest provision that
signifies that directors are aware of conflict of interest provisions
in state law, Knowles said. After that takes place, registration would
quickly follow, she said.
Senter blames the lack of registration on a paperwork mixup in
Concord. He said the Secretary of State's Office had been sitting on
his incorporation certificate since December because it needed more
information.
Benefits for Humanity International hopes to sell squares for $209 to
$319 on the "Game of Manchester" to businesses and other
organizations. The game, similar to Parker Brothers' "Monopoly" would
then be sold in the community.
Senter said he hopes that proceeds from his activities will provide
laptop computers to all 17,000-plus Manchester school children. The
effort will require more than $10 million, and he said Benefits for
Humanity has full-time grant writers working on the project.
As of Tuesday, the organization had a net worth of about $1,000, he said.
On Tuesday, Manchester school officials said they have not endorsed
such an effort.
Yesterday, Senter said he had been in contact with the mayor's office
throughout the process.
"They mayor's office was fine with it, they said 'anything that can be
done to curb the school budget,'" Senter said. He said he also wants
to help the Manchester Library and the Greater Manchester AIDS
Project.
David Scannell, a former aide to Manchester Mayor Robert Baines and
now a community liaison with the school department, said he did talk
to Senter when he was at the mayor's office.
Senter spoke to him about the "Game of Manchester" and Scannell gave
him some leads, including the Small Business Administration and the
names of some corporate benefactors. But Scannell said Senter never
discussed what organizations would benefit from the effort.
Copyright 2004 Union Leader Corp.
The information on this site is copyrighted and cannot be reused
without the permission of The Union Lead
Union Leader, The/New Hampshire Sunday News (Manchester, NH)
New Hampshire Union Leader (Manchester, NH)
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