LOLcats and fundraising: two worlds collide
Yes. Thanks to Stuart Bright, the originator of a serious donor relations problem for the Hervey Foundation for Cats, an Alberta charity for abandoned or injured cats. Bright recently pleaded guilty to charges of sending defamatory letters to 600 donors to the cat charity. From the Edmonton Sun:
According to agreed facts, Bright lived common-law for several years with Marjorie Hervey, president and founder of the Hervey Foundation for Cats, a Stony Plain charity for abandoned or injured cats. While they were together, the “advanced” computer user set up an e-mail account and a website for the foundation. The couple’s relationship deteriorated in 2004 and he moved out in June 2005. A month later he accessed the foundation website and changed the password for the e-mail account, but never informed Hervey of the change.
This meant Hervey could no longer get e-mails sent to her and Bright could also send messages from the account as if Hervey was writing them herself. He then used the account to send himself three derogatory e-mails which were made to look as if Hervey had written them and he used them in his favour during civil court proceedings between them. The e-mails include one in which he is referred to as a “little wimp” and has an attached picture showing a hand with a gun pointing at a kitten with its front paws up as if it is surrendering (here’s the photo).
Bright then used a mailing list of about 600 supporters of the cat foundation to send out a libellous letter regarding Hervey and the foundation, which resulted in complaints to the RCMP and supporters withholding their donations. The bogus letter has Bright stating he had resigned as general manager of the foundation and saying “it is with a broken heart and regret I have to inform you …” The letter then falsely suggests that nearly $100,000 in donations had been used by Hervey and her husband, William Hamilton, to buy booze, hairdressing, food and gifts. The fake letter also suggests Hervey had euthanized 300 cats needlessly and had mistreated many others. As well, it says Hervey had threatened to kill him and pointed a loaded gun at him four times.
Marjorie Hervey is in the process of re-building public trust in her organization.
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