Regulators are checking up on charities

Regulators are checking up on charities
PHOENIX (UPI) -- Federal regulators are examining the practices of a number of charities tied to a televangelism ministry based in Phoenix, government e-mails said.

The Don Stewart Association solicits donations from government employees through the Combined Federal Campaign, the government's annual workplace charity drive, The Arizona Republic reported Sunday.

The association was the subject of an investigation by the newspaper that found over three years many cash donations went to salaries and gifts to other charities run by friends and relatives of organization members.

The association is not aware of the inquiry, its lawyer, Paul Eckstein said.

"This seems odd to us," he said. "If any review were to occur, my client would of course cooperate quickly and enthusiastically because it would show practices consistent with others."

Representatives of the Don Stewart Association and some of the charities named in the report said their operations follow accepted accounting practices and deliver relief to the sick and hungry around the world.

No comment has come from the Office of Personnel Management on either the charities or any review, the newspaper said.


Copyright 2009 by United Press International

This news arrived on: 09/28/2009