Breaking News on Charity Scams! On May 19th, 2015 CNBC broke the News that Some Cancer Charities Scammed Consumers out of $187M

A Lawsuit has been filed against the Breast Cancer Society, the Cancer Fund of America, Children’s Cancer Fund of America and Cancer Support Services by The Federal Trade Commission and attorney general in all 50 states. In 2013 Tampa Bay Times and the Center for Investigative Reported “America’s Worst Charities” and found that the charities listed above are all run by the same family and their business associates. Currently Breast Cancer Society and Children’s Cancer Fund of America has entered a settlement agreement. Three of the groups’ executives have agreed to a settlement of $137M that will be redirected to cancer patients and these violators are now banned from any future charity management.

 According to Jessica Rich, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection, it is alleged that 87% of the 187M went to paying personal salaries, funding unrelated fundraisers, dating site memberships and vacations to Disney World with about 3% going to charity. 

See a full report here: http://www.cnbc.com/id/102690794

These bad apples shouldn’t ruin it for everyone.  Don’t stop giving to charities just do your research! There are still legitimate charities out there that do deliver to those in need such as #1 United Way, #2 Salvation Army, #3 Feeding America, #4 Task Force for Global Health, #5 American National Red Cross, #6 Food for the poor, #7 Goodwill Industries International, #8 YMCA of the USA and The American Cancer Society which is ranked  #9 in the top 50 largest charities in the United states.

 If you visit The American Cancer Society Website and click on the link to Relay for Life, you will find a link to Relay for Life of Second Life.  So, rest assured if you have contributed to RFL in SL then your Lindens went to cancer patients. If you are part of one of the 85 RFL teams in Second Life you should be very proud that you helped raise over $20, 614!

Visit  The American Cancer Society in Second Life

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/American%20Cancer%20Society/121/111/21

Additional Links:

Check out what events are happening now in Second Life:

http://relayforlifeofsecondlife.org/2015-events-list/

American Cancer Society

http://www.cancer.org/

Get Involved

http://www.cancer.org/involved/participate/relayforlife/index

Events

http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=68673

Top 50 Charities in the US

http://www.forbes.com/top-charities/list/