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ST. LOUIS NEWS TODAY - Sunday, November 19, 2006
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United Way Makes 2006 Campaign Goal
ST. LOUIS, (SLFP.com), November 19, 2006 - The St. Louis region has once again shown its continued generosity by contributing $66 million in a little more than two months to United Way. United Way of Greater St. Louis celebrated its victory at America's Center on Wednesday, November 15 announcing its goal had been surpassed, raising: $66,0002,006 in gifts and pledges.
"As you know, this year's campaign theme was based on big hearts," said United Way Campaign Chair Steve Maritz, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of Maritz Inc. "And I am amazed at how big this community's heart truly is. Because of you, United Way will help more than one million people through our region next year. I would like to thank each and every one of you for opening your heart and working so hard to make this year's campaign a success. I said 'Go for $66 in '06' and you did. Thank you."
Maritz addressed nearly 1,000 campaign volunteers and contributors who attended the campaign victory celebration luncheon. Overall, several thousand volunteers worked on the 2006 United Way campaign which included employee groups, labor unions, businesses, corporations and government employees.
Along with the campaign volunteers, 2,500 companies ran campaigns and more than 200,000 individuals contributed to the United Way campaign success in the 16-county region of Missouri and Illinois.
More than 90 cents of every dollar United Way raises goes directly back into this community to provide services that help people become safer, healthier and more self-sufficient.
The St. Louis Regional Business Council, which represents more than 100 area firms, raised more than $8.9 million this year.
Thirteen companies, their employees and participating labor unions were recognized for combined team gifts of more than one million dollars each this year. Team gifts combine the gifts and pledges of employees with the company
s corporate contribution.
Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc. had the largest team gift of more than $3,000,000 from its employees, labor unions and Anheuser-Busch Foundation.
The firms giving $2 million or more in team gifts were employees of: Edward Jones, Emerson Electric (new this year at this level), Enterprise Rent-A-Car Company, and Monsanto Company.
At the $1 million or more level in team gifts from employees were: A.G. Edwards, Inc, AT&T along with the Communications Workers of America, employees of Ameren Corporation including labor unions and Ameren Corporation, Bank of America, The Boeing Company, Macy's, associates and labor unions of Schnuck Markets, Inc., and U.S. Bank.
Fundraiser to Pay Restitution for 'Badge Fraud'
ST. CHARLES, (SLFP.com), November 19, 2006 - An O'Fallon fundraiser whose organization solicited donations over the phone by misrepresenting that the caller was a police officer will pay $50,292 in restitution and donate $5,000 to a local children's hospital. Gerald J. Lami, who did business under the name Police Tribune, also is prohibited from acting as a fundraiser in Missouri under the terms of the consent judgment obtained by Attorney General Jay Nixon.
"Missourians have always given great support to law enforcement, and we don't want to jeopardize that goodwill by a professional fundraiser who attempts to solicit funds through deceit," Nixon said at a news conference at Ranken Jordan Hospital in Maryland Heights, where he was joined by several area community police officials.
The Attorney General was also joined by Laurie Tanner, President and CEO of Ranken Jordan. Nixon presented Tanner with a check for $5,000 to aid the hospital's Family Assistance Program and to purchase Christmas presents for the hospital's child patients during the holidays.
"With the holiday season just around the corner, it is important that Missourians have confidence that the money they donate to charity goes to its intended purpose," Nixon continued. "Scams like 'badge fraud' tend to make citizens with good intentions less inclined to give. It's entirely appropriate that this defendant ends up actually donating to a worthwhile charity after his business used the good name of law enforcement to defraud consumers."
Nixon obtained a temporary restraining order in August 2005 in St. Charles County Circuit Court against Lami and his son, Jay Lami, of Beaufort, that froze Police Tribune assets. Jay Lami is now deceased.
Business owners in St. Louis, Fenton, St. Peters, Maryland Heights, O'Fallon, Florissant, Kirkwood and other communities complained to local police after they received phone calls from the Police Tribune. Many times, the callers falsely identified themselves as being police officers. The police forwarded the complaints to the Attorney General's Office.
The business owners were solicited to purchase advertising in the Police Tribune and to make charitable donations, purportedly to benefit law enforcement-related programs and organizations. Prospective donors were told the programs would benefit survivors of officers killed in the line of duty and provide shopping trips to underprivileged youth. If the business owner agreed to make the donation, a courier was often sent to the business to pick it up.
The Police Tribune was not registered as a professional fundraiser or a charitable organization with the Attorney General's Office, as required by law. That meant there were no records on file with Nixon's office showing how much, if any, of the donations raised actually went to charity.
According to the judgment, the defendant is prohibited from operating as a fundraiser in the state of Missouri. The defendant's investment account with Fidelity Investments will be closed and from that account:
* $50,292 in full restitution will be paid to the businesses that bought the advertisements;
* $15,000 will be paid to the Merchandising Practices Revolving Fund for the state's costs in bringing the lawsuit and to provide funds for consumer education and advocacy programs; and
* $5,000 will be donated to Ranken Jordan Hospital of St. Louis. Several St. Louis-area police organizations already provide financial support to the hospital, which pays for lodging, meals, taxis and other services for parents who visit their children through its Family Assistance Program.
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