Senator Murphy Calls On IRS To Investigate Missing Newtown Donations

WASHINGTON—Today, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) sent a letter to John Koskinen, Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to call for an immediate investigation into the 26.4.26 Foundation, which has been unable to account for over $70,000 in donations bound for the Newtown community in the wake of the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. The 26.4.26 Foundation, based in Tennessee, reportedly solicited more than $100,000 in donations for Newtown. While $30,000 of this funding has already been donated to the Newtown Youth Academy, more than $70,000 is still unaccounted for.

“It’s outrageous that somebody would run off with even one penny intended to help this community heal,” said Murphy. “It’s unconscionable that the goodwill of so many in the wake of this tragic event has been exploited by somebody associated with this Foundation.  I worry that if this incident remains unresolved it will discourage other generous people from across the country and around the globe from donating money to help Newtown recover.”

The full text of the letter is below:

The Honorable John Koskinen

Commissioner of Internal Revenue Service

1111 Constitution Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20224-0002

Dear Commissioner Koskinen,

I am writing with serious concern over a registered Non-Profit entity in Tennessee called the “26.4.26 Foundation” (Tennessee Secretary of State Control Number: 000715224). 

According to one of the founders of this organization, who has thankfully lodged formal complaints with the Tennessee Attorney General’s office and the FBI, the 26.4.26 Foundation received more than $100,000 in donations in the wake of the horrific shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.  These donations were solicited with the explicit intention of going to Newtown.  In January of 2013, the 26.4.26 Foundation donated $30,000 to the Newtown Youth Academy, but the remainder of the money collected, more than $70,000, is still unaccounted for. 

I am outraged at reports that the remaining donations never reached the Newtown community, and that it appears likely that one of the other co-founders of this charity has misappropriated or stolen the remaining donations, and is now unreachable.

I ask that you use all the tools at your disposal to investigate this matter.  It is unacceptable to me and to the people of Newtown that goodwill from strangers in the wake of this tragic event has been exploited by people associated with this Foundation.  I worry that if this incident remains unresolved it will discourage other generous people from across the country and around the globe from donating money to help Newtown recover.   

Newtown is in the beginning stages of a long healing process following this unspeakable event, and this news only exacerbates their pain.   Please keep my office informed, as is appropriate, on the progress of your investigation. 

Sincerely,

Christopher S. Murphy

United States Senator