I bet Saving Our Daughters is sorry they ever allowed their charity to be the focus of a masquerade benefit held by Kenya Moore on this season's Real Housewives of Atlanta. The aftermath of the charity event gets messier by the day. There seems to be no clear answer as to how much was donated and by whom. And the organization itself has come under scrutiny as it has been touting itself as a 501(c)3 charity when that exempt status was revoked by the IRS last year.
Saving Our Daughters released another statement yesterday to try to explain why they lost their tax exempt status and how they're working to rectify it. I'd like to note here that they removed their previous statement about the event from their website.
The chairman writes, "Saving Our Daughters’ has been a non-profit since 1997 and received its 501 C-3 in 1998. Many people are aware that in 2009 the founder of the organization, Curtis Benjamin, youngest daughter was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor that required immediate chemotherapy and radiation in Atlanta. During this time, all of Mr. Benjamin’s time and energy was solely dedicated to his daughter and family. After 2 1/2 years of battling this disease, Iliss Marie Benjamin died in 2011, one month before her 13th birthday."
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The continue, "During these unfortunate times, Curtis disengaged in any organizations’ duties and in the meantime, the organization unfortunately lost its tax-exempt status. After grieving his daughter’s death and wanting to fulfill his promise to continue to help young girls, Curtis resumed his duties and passion for Saving Our Daughters. As of December 2013, the non-profit organization Saving Our Daughters has been engaged with the IRS and has re-submitted for its 501-C-3. It is expected that they will be reinstated in mid –year of 2014 and continue its programing causes for young girls in 2014."
They assure supporters that their donations are going to be tax deductible for last year and this year. "All donations received past and present made to Saving Our Daughters will still be tax-deducible this year and in 2013 as well. Curtis Benjamin"
I'm not up on all of the laws regarding charity organizations, but I am pretty sure you cannot accept donations when your tax exempt status has been revoked. Anyone out there have legal knowledge of how this works?
TELL US – DO YOU THINK SAVING OUR DAUGHTERS IS TICKED OVER ALL THE MEDIA SCRUTINY? OR LOVING THE NEW ATTENTION?
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