Concern about fraudsters cashing in
Concern has been raised by the Avril Elizabeth Home for the Mentally Handicapped on reports that there were people posing as representatives of the Home and collecting funds in its name.
Avril Elizabeth Home has always had a strict regime of fund collection and people fundraising for the Home are given written permission to do so. The Home does not approve and therefore does not give permission to 'fundraisers' who accost people in parking lots or shopping centres.
"We do have people who do sell Avril Elizabeth Home button badges in some shopping centres. They will always be seated at a table and will have identification and information from the Home," says Kathy Jooste, CEO for Avril Elizabeth Home. "There are also fundraisers who approach companies and the public on our behalf, but they carry identification that clearly marks them as our representatives."
Teddy collection tins
In addition, Teddy collection tins are visibly marked with the Avril Elizabeth teddy bear logo and with the organisation's non-profit organisation number and contact details. Jooste says that the people who collect the tins, have written permission to do so and anyone who does not have this should not be given the tins.
"Please do not contribute to tins that are not clearly marked as Avril Elizabeth Home Teddy Tins either. If you are at all in doubt about the person approaching you for funding or collecting a Teddy tin, unsure whether the documentation they have is legitimate or about the tin itself, please feel free to call us on +27 (0)11 822 2233. We will investigate the matter immediately."
Related
