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Organization Involved In Missing Woman Search Has Faced Criticism

Posted: 5:17 pm EST February 6, 2006Updated: 5:21 pm EST February 6, 2006

9 Investigates has discovered the group that organized the February 4-5 weekend search for Jennifer Kesse has drawn critical attention from a non-profit watchdog group.

Child Watch of North America is based in Orlando. Records uncovered by Channel 9 show most of the money the group raises pays for salaries, not searches.

Child Watch of North America signed up volunteers to help search for Jennifer Kesse, and founder Don Wood was front and center at some of news conferences.

Thursday, they were even collecting checks for the Jennifer Kesse Search Fund made out to Child Watch of North America. That has since been changed.

A report uncovered by 9 Investigates may make donors to Child Watch think twice.

The Wise Giving Alliance, part of the Better Business Bureau, found Child Watch doesn't meet nine different standards for charitable giving. The group found there is no board of directors providing oversight, no audited financial statement to inspect and no annual report.

Don Wood said it was not a big deal.

"I don't think it was complaints. It was more suggestions on how we should set up," he said.

The most recent tax return for Child Watch of North America also raises eyebrows at the Wise Giving Alliance. It shows that for every dollar they collected in 2004, 91 cents went to salaries.

Wise Giving said a well-run charity would be about three times that.

Wood said Child Watch lost much of its funding in recent years and it severely affected their finances.

On their Web site, Child Watch lists Staples as a corporate sponsor. A spokeswoman said the relationship ended two years ago.

Wood said his group hasn't been promised money for organizing the Kesse search. He's leaving any contribution to Child Watch up to the Kesse family.

It's important to point out that the Jennifer Kesse Search Fund is being set up and it will be controlled by the family, not by Child Watch of North America.

Also, a family friend sought out the group to help in the search. Child Watch of North America did not approach the Kesses.

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