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Scandal at JDRF!

Today, a shocking revelation about the JDRF: two employees have been caught embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars, the New York Times reports. This is pretty well the worst news I have heard since my diagnosis with diabetes four years ago.

Imagine the fireworks! All those parents killing themselves to raise money for JDRF, striving to fund research toward a cure. All those dedicated walkers and cyclists doing the same. And all the rest of us, who’d put our unconditional trust and hopes into this organization…

Naturally, bad eggs can pop up anywhere. Let us hope that the guilty parties — Jonathan Stenger, national director, and Jason Brown, national manager (who were both already fired late last year) — were isolated cases of crookdom and haven’t colored the rest of the organization. Just as naturally, however, this scandal is going to leave a blot on the JDRF’s rep. I hope donations don’t dry up.

To make matters worse,the foundation’s president and CEO Arnold W. Donald, 53, is stepping down tomorrow supposedly due to urgent “family matters” that are unrelated to the investigation. Right.

I’m just so disappointed at the moment. That’s all I have to say.

Explore posts in the same categories: D-News Examined

Thursday, February 28th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (22)

Comments

this just kills me, especially since Forbes called the JDRF a “powerhouse” and labeled them as a top charity a few years ago…it really makes you wonder sometimes, where is our money really going…
Posted by: Courtney | February 28th, 2008 at 8:47 am
Having read some of the details at Scott Strumello’s blog, I can only hope that the rigor with which JDRF pursued their “internal audit” displays their true commitment to transparency, ethics and raising funds for a cure. It would be a great disappointment otherwise.
Posted by: Kathy | February 28th, 2008 at 9:10 am
I wouldn’t assume that Donald’s resignation has anything to do with this unless you have some evidence on that.

-Anne
Posted by: Anne | February 28th, 2008 at 9:24 am
Sigh. that’s like stealing money from my child. Very sad.
Posted by: Michelle | February 28th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Its pretty pathetic that people would actually do something like this.
Posted by: gina | February 28th, 2008 at 9:51 am
Yes we’re shocked and appalled, but at least JDRF caught it themselves through their own internal audit procedures. And they are seeking full restitution. JDRF is still our best hope at finding a cure. I just hope donations don’t fall off because of this.
Posted by: Kathy | February 28th, 2008 at 10:07 am
Whenever news like this hits the wires, the cynic in me always wonders how much other heinous, criminal misbehavior goes undetected — not specifically at JDRF, but anywhere I contribute money for a worthy cause.

Now, in addition to its hard work on behalf of my pancreas, JDRF has its own big black eye to worry about, too. Thanks a lot, Stenger & Brown.

I have more respect for common street thugs, who at least have the intestinal fortitude to rob you face to face.
Posted by: Jeff | February 28th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Man, such sad news. Almost speechless.
Posted by: Marston A. | February 28th, 2008 at 11:01 am
I truly believe this is a case of one or two bad people who commit a crime. I know many, many jdrf vols and staff and they are all great people who really, truly care about their mission. It is up to us to NOT let this slow us down. If we do, the criminals win. I would think that the people who worked around these two clowns are even more hurt and upset than we all are. Let’s give the best team working for a cure for us and our kids ALL our support when they really need it.
Posted by: Susan | February 28th, 2008 at 11:17 am
I noticed in the NY Times article that it said that Arnold Donald is taking early retirement. Wasn’t he just hired in 2006 from outside the organization? I just hope he didn’t have some generous retirement package available to him after just two years of service.
Posted by: Paul | February 28th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Hope JDRF have a big bond to collect the money they stole.
Posted by: Bob | February 28th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
anyone have addresses on these upstanding citizens?
Posted by: Tod | February 28th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Look up the last names in New York City. I am sure you’ll find them.
Posted by: Erica | February 28th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Sorry, this does not surprise me one bit. After they aggressively tried to discredit Dr. Denise Faustman a couple of years ago, I lost all faith in their integrity as an organization. They have lost sight of their mission, period - this is just the latest example.
Posted by: MEC | February 28th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Arnold Donald’s stepping down really is due to family matters. Your sarcasm is a little insolent of someone who should be admired for making his family top priority.

The whole embezzlement thing really is a sad deal.
Posted by: Jessica Hickok | February 28th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Smells like…Enron…

JDRF has done NOTHING to cure Type 1 diabetes. All recent major breakthroughs have come from other researchers without JDRF funding.

I’m sure this won’t be the last scandal we see coming out of JDRF. If they were to spend more time working on an ACTUAL cure instead of playing around with stem cells in a few lab rats, maybe we’d have some progress.

I’m not the only one who can see this…those poor disillusioned mothers who have been brainwashed to give to JDRF better open their eyes…

These men responsible deserve to develop Type 1 diabetes themselves…or their children. And deal with it in jail. Thanks for your comments Amy, I feel the same way…but I’m not surprised in the least.
Posted by: Sarah | February 28th, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Each person who has diabetes, is related to someone with diabetes, and who has given money to JDRF should be allowed to stick those two jerks with a needle!
Posted by: Stella'sMom | February 29th, 2008 at 9:32 am
I am doing my first JDRF walk next Month. I have many friends and family who have sacrificed their own dollars to help this cause. I’m embarrassed and reading this is just so disheartening.
Posted by: Windy | February 29th, 2008 at 10:26 am
The organization discovered the fraud and theft, and brought it to light. Granted, it was after they took action, but I don’t think there is anything systemically wrong at the JDRF, based on their admission. The United Way was able to bounce back after scandal in the early 90s (iirc). Let’s hope the JDRF can do so as well.

It’s just… /sigh How freaking disheartening.
Posted by: geekgirl | February 29th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
As a long time volenteer to many so called non-profit establishments, I can sort of see why such items might happen. This is just too much take for selfish personal interests, hope they feel guilty of this and surrender their personal belongings to give back to the cure of diabetes, not an organization that kick backs from medical organizations that push their products. Hope my suggested comment get through their darkness.
Posted by: Ric | March 1st, 2008 at 6:57 am
They ought to hang these two guys. On second thought how about the needle in the arm…..attached to a 10ml vial of Rapid insulin.
Posted by: Florian | March 2nd, 2008 at 1:49 pm
How sad. This will cause a decrease in the amount of money I collect for the walk. What can I tell people, I am ashamed.
On another note - this may explain why I had no response to my request for income tax receipts. They came today and I have already filed, this will also decrease the amount that I collect because my sponsors probably didn’t get their receipts any earlier than I did. It took from June/07 until April /08. Not a good job.
Posted by: Harriett | April 7th, 2008 at 12:43 pm