Kansas is one of eight states that worked to identify and shut down a fake hospice charity group.
The New Hope Foundation was based out of Tennessee and collected donations to provide information about hospice services. Prosecutors say the group appeared local when trying to get donations through the mail and over the phone. In 2016, the group brought in more than $4-million, but officials say little if any services were actually performed.
The New Hope Foundation’s president, Farrah Young, will pay $160,000 to compensate state for investigations costs and fines. Three people who worked for the group are banned for life from doing doing any kind of charity or fund raising work.
Four associated fake cancer charities were also shut down, and $2.5-million was recovered. That money is being sent to help legitimate cancer centers across the U.S.
Kansas Attorney General, Derek Schmidt, suggests donating to well-known and established charities to make sure your money is going to people who actually need it. Any over the phone solicitation for donations should be treated as suspicious, especially if you’re being pressured. Any group asking for donations should be able to provide documents showing where donations are going and how the money is used.
