The Love of Money...The Root of All Evil

There is no handbook for parents of missing children. I think we all know and understand that many things are handled as they come up; one cannot plan ahead when the unthinkable happens to them. With that being said, there are plenty of resources and organizations to assist with various aspects when a child goes missing.

It has come to my attention that some people are concerned about the money trail in this case. If people are concerned about where their donations are going, they do not have to donate. By that same token, if a person solicits donations, they should be willing and able to inform people of the purpose of the donations collected. Some may want to give, but the lack of a definite, truthful answer regarding the use of funds may turn them away. 

Per the Accusations for Ayla blog:

In an effort to bring continued awareness for missing toddler, Ayla Bell Reynolds, her mother Trista is organizing the "Ayla's Walk with Trista - A Benefit Walk for Ayla" on 7/14/2012 @ 4 pm. The walk will take participants through some of the favorite places Ayla liked to stroll with her mother. The walk will begin at Monument Square and finish at Deering Oaks Park and is expected to take about 30 minutes. T'shirts and Baseball caps will be sold prior to the walk so come early! Event to be sponsored by LostNMissing Inc. Following the walk will be refreshing drinks and desserts along with a flying lantern release. 

Trista did an interview in which she solemnly declared Ayla deceased, and stated that she would never see her again. One cannot help noticing the irony of the situation: while giving this interview, Trista was wearing a shirt that read "bring Ayla home." Trista does not believe that is going to happen, but her shirt speaks volumes (these are the same shirts that the Reynolds family will sell for 20 bucks apiece) . This interview is not the first time that Trista has alluded to the fact that people should no longer be looking for a live child. As early as a month into the investigation, Trista insinuated that Ayla was no longer alive. The evidence that has been released to the public does not support such a drastic change in optimism. The "bring Ayla home" shirts, adorned with Ayla's smiling face, are not congruent with the message Trista is portraying in the media.

In the past, Jeffrey Hanson has said that any funds raised will be used for awareness items. If Ayla has no chance of coming home, and is deceased, what exactly is the awareness for? Where are the proceeds from t-shirt and hat sales going? Why sell awareness items, when at the same time you are telling people to give up hope? I have already sent an inquiry to the IRS, and I encourage anyone else who is concerned to do the same. The form is here, and more information can be found here.  Asking Jeff questions about accountability has been unfruitful. Any comment asking such a question, even in the most innocent terms, is deleted. Why delete simple questions like that, instead of answering them once and for all? Got something to hide, huh?

 

A bit of information:

Monetary donations can be extremely helpful to families whose lives have been turned upside down by the disappearance of a child. They can be used to help finance the search, fund a reward, or support the family if a parent is unable to work during the search process. But donations can also present problems if they are not managed properly. For this reason, you need to be aware of some important accounting and accountability issues that, if not handled correctly, could result in legal and financial ruin.

Make sure that both you and your contributors know how the money will be used. Donations can be used for many different purposes, depending upon your need. Ask that donations be earmarked for a specific purpose—such as the reward fund, the search fund, or the family support fund—and if they are not, ask one of your volunteers to call the donor to find out to which fund the donation should be given. Seek professional help from both a lawyer and a banker to help you establish separate trusts and accounts and to oversee disbursements. 

Designate trusted individuals outside the family to have signature authority over the accounts. By removing yourself from the control of the funds, you eliminate any unnecessary scrutiny by members of the public or the media about the use of the funds. Make sure that the individuals selected for this task are trustworthy and that they understand their role and potential liability. 

Be honest with the public. Be prepared for questions, which may turn into accusations, concerning the use of donated funds. Designate one person—who could be you or a trusted friend or family member—to answer all questions concerning how the funds are being spent. Information concerning the number of donations or the amount in the accounts should never be released to the media. 

Specify what will happen to the reward in the event your child is located before the money is spent. Sometimes large sums of money in a reward fund are left unspent. Therefore, you need to establish written procedures for how the money is to be dispensed if it cannot be used for the reward. For example, you can specify that all donations over a certain amount are to be returned, if the donor is traceable, or that unused funds are to be donated to an organization or agency that helped with the search. Excess reward fund money should never be used for the family’s personal expenses because that was not the purpose of the fund. Again, talk with an attorney to determine how to handle this situation.

Personally, I do not recommend donating to the family or to LostNMissing (for obvious reasons). Your funds are likely better spent and managed when they go to established national or respected organizations like NCMEC or Texas Equusearch. In the interest of full disclosure, I have to admit that I have never and will never donate to either of these organizations. I believe that the money I set aside for charitable organizations should go to agencies that are more proactive in nature; therefore, I donate exclusively to child advocacy centers.

Demand answers; demand transparency!