Attorney General Lockyer Praises Formation of Charity Ethics Task Force in Los Angeles

Says Attorney General's Office Will Work With Panel To Develop Anti-Fraud Plan

Tuesday, January 27, 2004
Contact: (916) 210-6000, agpressoffice@doj.ca.gov

(LOS ANGELES) – Attorney General Bill Lockyer today issued the following statement on the City of Los Angeles' formation of the Task Force on Ethical Charities:

"I am pleased the city has established the Task Force, charged with developing a plan to reduce fraud in the nonprofit sector and restore donor confidence. My office is committed to the same goals. We will work with the panel and its appointed commission to help them develop proposals to educate non-profits and donors, and provide charities a greater ability to share information and resources.

"We support this program because controlling charity fraud must begin at the local level. The Los Angeles effort is unique because, unlike every other program that exists on a national level, it focuses on helping charities that operate only in the local community. The ultimate objective is one we all share: to drive unscrupulous operators out of business and ensure donors' money helps the needy, not the greedy."

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