Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is taking legal action in federal court against a charity that claimed to raise funds for cancer patients.
Attorney General Moody, along with the Federal Trade Commission and agencies from nine other states, filed suit against Cancer Recovery Foundation International, Inc. and its founder and president, Gregory B. Anderson. Cancer Recovery Foundation International also operated and solicited donations using the name Women’s Cancer Fund.
The foundation claimed that it provided financial support directly to help cancer patients and families in need. In some telemarketing solicitations, CRFI claimed that “50% of all money … goes to support women in treatment and recovery overcome their financial difficulties.” However, a civil investigation revealed that CRFI directed far less to cancer patients and families of cancer patients—the charity allegedly only provided about a penny of every dollar spent toward supporting patients.
According to Attorney General Moody’s legal action, of the $18.25 million donated to the charity from 2017 to 2022, allegedly only $194,809—roughly 1%—went to help women with cancer.
“Cancer is a terrible disease that affects millions of Americans nationwide,” Republican Attorney General Ashley Moody said. “Generous Floridians make financial contributions to help those fighting for their lives. The defendants in this case exploited that generosity to solicit millions of dollars in donations that were never allocated as promised. We are taking action to prevent the charity from deceiving donors and recover money for cancer patients.”
According to the allegations in the legal complaint, the charity and its operators knew that most donated funds did not actually help women with cancer and patients’ families. Instead of providing financial assistance for utility bills, rent and food, donor contributions were allegedly used to pay professional fundraisers and Anderson’s salary.
“Cancer Recovery Foundation International and Anderson abused the generosity of American donors in the most egregious way,” FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Samuel Levine said. “The FTC is committed to aggressively pursuing such illegal conduct, which hurts donors and deprives legitimate charities of needed funding. We are grateful to our state partners for joining in this effort to protect the public.”
The action also alleges that the defendants previously worked with deceptive telemarketers Associated Community Services, Inc., and Directele, Inc., until those organizations were shut down in 2021 in an action brought by the Florida Attorney General’s Office, the FTC and 37 other state agencies. CRFI hired a new company, and the practices continued.
Joining Florida Attorney General Moody and the FTC include the attorneys general of California, Maryland, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Virginia, and Wisconsin; along with the Secretary of State of Maryland and the Utah Division of Consumer Protection.
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