Call Kurtis: How You Can Check A Charity Before Donating Money
VACAVILLE (CBS13) - A Dixon woman won a Halloween costume contest at a fundraiser. When she didn't get her prize after several months, she called Kurtis.
The Dixon woman wanted her prize.
Over time when she didn't get it, she wondered if the event was even a legitimate fundraiser.
"I was dressed as a devil, my sister was dressed as a witch," said Patti Wilcox, Dixon resident.
These are the costumes that won Wilcox and her sister a limo ride and dinner for two.
The contest was held at the Halloween blues party fundraiser, held at the Moose Lodge in Vacaville.
"He said I don't have the prize with me, here's my card give me a call," said Wilcox.
He is Sean McGroarty, who leads up the Solano Blues Community. He held the fundraiser benefitting the Boys and Girls Club.
But after several phone calls and four emails in three months, Wilcox never got her prize.
"The whole thing just seemed not quite right," said Wilcox.
She wondered if the Boys and Girls Club even got their money.
Although charities must be registered with the Attorney General's Office, we've learned no one really oversees smaller fundraisers to make sure proceeds go where organizers claim they're going.
"If you're not a charity and you're not a commercial fundraiser and you just want to donate some of your money to someone else, you don't have to register to do that," said Lynda Gledhill, spokesperson for the California Attorney General's Office.
In this case, the Boys and Girls Club confirms they received a thousand dollars from this fundraiser.
We asked McGroarty, "Where's the prize?"
He didn't have much of an explanation as to why he didn't have it the night of the contest but claims he mailed it off in November.
Wilcox doesn't buy his explanation.
"All I can do is laugh," said Wilcox.
Once we got involved, Wilcox got her gift certificates for the limo ride and dinner. But, she said it was never really about the prize.
"It's the principle more than anything," said Wilcox.
Wilcox has since had her dinner at the Fairfield Hilton but she plans to donate her limo ride to the Boys and Girls Club.
Before donating to any charity or fundraiser, ask about how the money will be distributed.
It's always a good idea to pay with a check or credit card so you have a record.
And, stay clear of donating to a random solicitation over the phone.
