Feed The Children Charity chief Larry Jones cedes control
Feed The Children Charity chief Larry Jones cedes control
by pjpearl50 on Tue Aug 18, 2009 5:24 pm
Published: August 14, 2009 in Oklahoma City newspaper
Feed The Children founder Larry Jones has agreed to give up operational control of his charity but will stay on for now as a spokesman and fundraiser.
His new role was described in a one-page news release Thursday announcing the settlement of a lawsuit that pitted Jones against most members of the charity’s board of directors.
The Oklahoma City-based Christian relief organization, which claims to raise more than $1.1 billion in donations a year, has been in turmoil for months because of the legal battle over who was in charge there.
Jones and his wife, Frances, founded the charity 30 years ago. It has become widely known for its heart-wrenching televised appeals for funds to feed starving children. The appeals often feature children suffering in Africa.
Larry Jones makes more than $230,000 a year from the charity.
In the news release, Larry Jones said, "At the end of day, it became quite clear the best interests of the children we serve around the world were not being met as long as we were distracted by this lawsuit. Therefore, after much prayer and consideration, Frances and I, along with the board members, agreed to end the lawsuit so Feed The Children can move forward again.”
Most of the directors on the charity’s board were upset with Larry Jones because they said his "freewheeling dominance” of decisions had hurt the charity. The upset directors were preparing to force him to take a sabbatical, but in December he had six of them ousted from the board before they could act.
They were replaced with five pastors supportive of Larry Jones.
Five of the ousted directors then sued the pastors. An Oklahoma County judge put those ousted directors back in charge until she could have another hearing. That hearing had been set for today.
The news release stated: "Under the terms of the settlement, Larry and Frances Jones will relinquish operational controls, giving them more time to continue with the organization in the capacity as spokespersons with responsibilities for generating support for the organization. The board of directors will continue to be in control of the organization.”
Those directors involved in the settlement are Rick England, a Hinton car dealer; Dan Mugg of Oklahoma City; C. Earnest Wyatt, an Oklahoma City veterinarian; and Leo Fundaro of Rockwall, Texas. One of the six ousted directors was not involved in the lawsuit and another dropped out of the case earlier.
England said, "The settlement and the new arrangement will allow the Feed The Children organization stability and confidence to continue to carry on its mission.”
The announcement prepared by attorneys and released by Feed The Children did not reveal whether the charity will pay for any legal fees incurred in the case.
Feed The Children founder Larry Jones has agreed to give up operational control of his charity but will stay on for now as a spokesman and fundraiser.
His new role was described in a one-page news release Thursday announcing the settlement of a lawsuit that pitted Jones against most members of the charity’s board of directors.
The Oklahoma City-based Christian relief organization, which claims to raise more than $1.1 billion in donations a year, has been in turmoil for months because of the legal battle over who was in charge there.
Jones and his wife, Frances, founded the charity 30 years ago. It has become widely known for its heart-wrenching televised appeals for funds to feed starving children. The appeals often feature children suffering in Africa.
Larry Jones makes more than $230,000 a year from the charity.
In the news release, Larry Jones said, "At the end of day, it became quite clear the best interests of the children we serve around the world were not being met as long as we were distracted by this lawsuit. Therefore, after much prayer and consideration, Frances and I, along with the board members, agreed to end the lawsuit so Feed The Children can move forward again.”
Most of the directors on the charity’s board were upset with Larry Jones because they said his "freewheeling dominance” of decisions had hurt the charity. The upset directors were preparing to force him to take a sabbatical, but in December he had six of them ousted from the board before they could act.
They were replaced with five pastors supportive of Larry Jones.
Five of the ousted directors then sued the pastors. An Oklahoma County judge put those ousted directors back in charge until she could have another hearing. That hearing had been set for today.
The news release stated: "Under the terms of the settlement, Larry and Frances Jones will relinquish operational controls, giving them more time to continue with the organization in the capacity as spokespersons with responsibilities for generating support for the organization. The board of directors will continue to be in control of the organization.”
Those directors involved in the settlement are Rick England, a Hinton car dealer; Dan Mugg of Oklahoma City; C. Earnest Wyatt, an Oklahoma City veterinarian; and Leo Fundaro of Rockwall, Texas. One of the six ousted directors was not involved in the lawsuit and another dropped out of the case earlier.
England said, "The settlement and the new arrangement will allow the Feed The Children organization stability and confidence to continue to carry on its mission.”
The announcement prepared by attorneys and released by Feed The Children did not reveal whether the charity will pay for any legal fees incurred in the case.
pjpearl50- Posts: 138
Join date: 2008-03-12 
Permissions of this forum:
You can reply to topics in this forum