Report: Children's Charity Executives Stole Donations

Report: Children's Charity Executives
Stole Donations
Nashville, Tenn. - Authorities are looking into allegations that executives of the worldwide charity Feed the Children took home boxes of food, clothing and household goods that had been donated to the poor.
After a four-month investigation, WTVF-TV broadcast video of charity executives, their assistants and their relatives using dollies to wheel boxes — several at a time — from a warehouse to their cars.
After being tipped by the station, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents on Monday raided a Nashville office of the charity and the homes of six administrative employees.
The agents carried out boxes and bags of brand-name clothing — some with tags still on — shoes, videos, blankets and food they suspect were donated for the needy. One box had "Merry Christmas to me'' written on it.
Feed the Children's executive director, Steve Highfill, was one of the employees shown on the video. He told WTVF he saw nothing wrong with allowing administrative staff to take donated items.
"If they're taking stuff home and giving their little brother a pair of shoes or some food, I don't have much to say about that,'' he said. "If that's wrong, fine. I don't think so and I don't think people are going to think so.''
Larry Jones, president and founder of Feed the Children, said Wednesday that charity policy clearly prohibits employees from taking donated items.
At a news conference in Oklahoma City, where Feed the Children is headquartered, Jones said the incident is "the greatest loss'' to his relief agency since he founded it 20 years ago. He added that the charity is conducting its own investigation, as are Oklahoma City authorities.
Several years ago, Jones said, he hired investigators when tipped that workers in Oklahoma City were taking items. They were arrested and prosecuted, he said.
He would not take questions from reporters.
WTVF's investigation began after workers at the warehouse told the station that administrative employees were using the warehouse as a personal shopping mall. Warehouse workers said they were not allowed to take any booty.
"You don't want to believe it. When I started, I didn't want to believe it,'' warehouse worker Mike Brewer said.
May 26, 1999
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