UPDATE FROM TAMARA
Monday, October 30, 2017
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This past Friday I learned that – in spite of the IRS’ official final determination that there was *no* financial impropriety at the nonprofit I founded in 2011 – the nonprofit has officially been *dissolved* (!!!!!)
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In 2011 I founded the nonprofit Lead Safe America Foundation.
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Over my years with the Foundation (2011 through 2016), with the support of donations from friends, family and the public at large and with the help of an involved and committed Board of Directors – together we used innovative and unprecedented (award winning) outreach strategies that helped thousands upon thousands of families protect their children from being poisoned. We also provided emergency support, resources and interventions for families whose children had been poisoned, distributed tens of thousands of free lead paint test kits over the years, and directly worked with thousands of families, both in person and via social media.
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This past Friday (10/27), I learned some very tragic and upsetting news….
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… Even though I have been found innocent (by virtue of an extensive IRS audit and the IRS’ subsequent dismissal of all concerns) of the bogus allegations of possible financial impropriety in the operation of the non-profit I founded (allegations initially made via an anonymous complaint to the Oregon DOJ), Lead Safe America Foundation (LSAF) has been officially “dissolved”— and is no longer. (Link)
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I am crushed and heartbroken that all it takes to destroy more than a decade of hard work is a single bogus/unfounded “anonymous complaint”. Such an anonymous complaint could be made by anyone – with absolutely no recourse. Anyone (in any industry, with any motivation, at any time.) I’ll just leave that there.
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In this case the organization destroyed was a bootstrapped non-profit started by a mother of lead-poisoned children — which, through sheer will, blood, sweat and tears I grew into a multi-award-winning, nationally respected grassroots resource (an organization that has only ever helped people — all of whom had no where else to turn for unbiased, un-politicized, un-censored information and emergency direct assistance.)
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Past Board Members (including Beth Butler, LSAF Board President from 2012 through 2016)) and myself are especially saddened for families to lose access to the innovative resources and programs we developed over the years – especially the loss of the ability to distribute free lead paint test kits to families around the country (and the world) through LSAF’s partnership with 3M (which was an extension of my personal relationship with Hybrivet from long before the nonprofit was founded!)
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As always, I am still working very hard volunteering to do what I do and what I have always done since my sons were poisoned (helping families each and every day get answers to their questions about childhood lead poisoning prevention and exposure).
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My other main focus right now is to present the IRS’ findings to the Oregon DOJ — providing the answers to *their* same allegations (based on the same disingenuous *anonymous tip*), so they too can close their costly-and-destructive-wild-goose-chase-at-the taxpayers’-expense!
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Then with that anticipated imminent closure of having the bizarre year-long nightmare behind us, my next goal is to fully establish that in fact I own the film that I directed and produced (and am a central character in) and therefore I have the right to finish the film and share it with the world so it can continue to help families everywhere (as it was designed to do and as it has with every preview screening and focus group screening to date!)
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For context for the above, and if you have not been following what has happened over the last 18 months, please read the following post(s):
As always, please let me know if you have any questions!
Tamara Rubin
#LeadSafeMama
Mother of Lead Poisoned Children
Mother of Lead Poisoned Children
“Unexpected Lead Expert”
How You Can Help:
I just made a significant payment to the bookkeeper who is helping with my legal battle defending my lead poisoning prevention advocacy work [thanks to a recent loan from some very generous friends!]
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I still need to raise $2,850 to pay her bill in full [her diligent and meticulous work was crucial in fully illuminating/demonstrating to the IRS that the allegations (made by someone intent on shutting down my advocacy work) were 100% false.]
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Can you chip in today? Contribute towards my legal battle costs so this film can be finished and released and help families everywhere?
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While loans are wonderful, a small gift is even better. If everyone on my lists (email list or Facebook) donated just $6.25 each, I would have enough to both pay my attorneys and my bookkeeper for their outstanding bills; If *half* of the people on my lists donated just $12.50 each these costs would be covered!
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Thank you. I can’t do this without your help.
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Tamara
To make a contribution in support of defending my advocacy
(so I can finish my film!) please click the heart below. Thank you!
(so I can finish my film!) please click the heart below. Thank you!
Click on the image below to see the Articles Of Dissolution
for Lead Safe America Foundation full size PDF
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Click HERE to see the Business Registry listing the people currently involved with / primarily responsible for the dissolution of LSAF (& their contact information.)
This is preposterous.
Yes- agreed!
So sad for you & all you have helped. This is terrible news.
Horrible!!! What about all those families out there with Pb-based dishes that continue to feed and poison their family members with these hazardous products. Not only do they contain high values of Pb, many products that we tested contain high concentrations of As and Sb.
Keep up the great work.
Thank you!