Four El Paso charities fail Better Business Bureau accountabili...

Four El Paso charities are spending more than 35 percent of their donations on administrative costs and not in the programs they were set up to aid, a report from the Better Business Bureau states.

[Rick]

Miracle League of El Paso, Texas
Committee Member Positions

* Executive Director - Sandie Sparks-Olivar
* Operations Director - Raul F. Olivar
* Secretary/Treasurer - Sharon McCormack
* Sponsorship Chairman -
* Registration Chairman -
* Volunteer & Buddy Chairman -
* Special Projects Chairman - Gabe Moran
* Fund Raiser Chairman - Rebekah E. Sandoval
* Publicity Director -
* E & U Chairman -
* Facilities Chairman -
* Umpire Chairman - Sam Ornelas
* Team Mom Chairman - Cindy Barba
* Director of Coaches - Oscar Honne
* Director of Cheerleading -
* Webmaster - Bob Willet

Board of Directors

El Paso's Miracle League, Inc. aka Miracle League of El Paso

* President/Executive Director: Sandra Sparks-Olivar
* Treasurer: Sharon McCormack
* Patsy Avila
* Beth Gray
* Secretary: Rebekah E. Sandoval
* Cindy Barba
* James Lemaster
* Raul Olivar
* Honorary Board Member: Joe Pickett, State Representative
* Vicki Walker
* Robin Sparks
* Matt LaBranche
* Honorary Board Member: Joan Shepack, Junior League of El Paso
* James Lemaster - Morgan Stanley

[Jane]

I always wondered about charities. I'm surprised United Way El Paso isn't on this list. I love how EP Times mentions their charities are not part of this. Whew.

[LyndaLBD]

I was a volunteer for ARC, and I do hope people will continue to donate - because HELP CAN'T WAIT!!!

[Harold]

Yeah, tell that to the Katrina victims. Help can't wait, huh? They are still waiting.

[Lemon]

It doesn't surprise me that the Miracle League is on the list.

[Mike-the original]

Lemon wrote:

It doesn't surprise me that the Miracle League is on the list.

Pray tell why you are not surprised? From what I have observed, Sandie Schwartz-Sparks-Olivar and the Miracle League are a miracle. They fill a niche not covered anywhere else. I have no idea why their administrative costs run 40percent but it does cost to coach and train disabled players and their parents. The field they used before was NOT donated but they paid for it thru the city. The new field is theirs. Thanks to the generosity of many of the donors, the kids will continue to be served. And no, I have no dog in this hunt. Just happen to be proud of the way the Miracle League works, in a city that discourages and looks down on the handicapped.

[Miracle League King]

the Miracle League spent the most in administration - 44 percent, according to the bureau.""

a friend works there, & she says they spend a lot on themselves, pay excess, and party a lot too; i went to one of their parties -- very extravagant !!

[Fraud Waste Abuse]

Blah blah blah. Never ending story. It's like flushing your money down the toilet.

[I dont understand]

Harold wrote:

Yeah, tell that to the Katrina victims. Help can't wait, huh? They are still waiting.

KATRINA??? VICTIMS??? Please years after Katrina they are still waiting, tell them to go get a job. Natural disasters in other parts of the world and the citizens organize them selves and start rebuilding. I saw it first hand Mexico city 1985 earth quake. 2 Hurricanes in Cancun, Hurricane Mitch in Honduras. No government help in rural areas only worried about the bigger cities. People got picks and shovels and started moving dirt and mud little kids sweeping streets sleeping at night under the stars. New Orleans, they got government debit cards that they used to get drunk and a FEMA trailer and you still want them to get more help. Give them a broom and start cleaning the streets no wait that would be insulting there dignity. The only Cahrity worth giving to is CRS (Catholic Relief Services), They just dont go and give them money they help people get back on their feet. After the sunami they paid and help build boats so fishermen could get back to work.

[Jay]

Those affected by Katrina need to get off their lazy white bottoms and get a job.

[Jay]

This report will surely hurt the donations that these organizations receive.

[Mike-the original]

Miracle League King wrote:

the Miracle League spent the most in administration - 44 percent, according to the bureau.""
a friend works there, & she says they spend a lot on themselves, pay excess, and party a lot too; i went to one of their parties -- very extravagant !!

Define extravagant- more than beer and chips? I too have attended parties at charities that could be considered extravagant, but the bottom line was always that more money went to the intended cause than the people putting on the party. Lay off Miracle League. For amateurs in the high flying world of corporate charities, they are doing pretty good. They don't have the high priced lawyers and publicists telling them what to say or do. Like many of the others.

[Volunteer]

Mike-the original wrote:

<quoted text>Pray tell why you are not surprised? From what I have observed, Sandie Schwartz-Sparks-Olivar and the Miracle League are a miracle. They fill a niche not covered anywhere else. I have no idea why their administrative costs run 40percent but it does cost to coach and train disabled players and their parents. The field they used before was NOT donated but they paid for it thru the city. The new field is theirs. Thanks to the generosity of many of the donors, the kids will continue to be served. And no, I have no dog in this hunt. Just happen to be proud of the way the Miracle League works, in a city that discourages and looks down on the handicapped.

From what I understand, it costs nothing to train the coaches because they are VOLUNTEERS, as are the TEAM MOMS and many of the individuals that have given their time to working the concession stands at Miner football and basketball games, in which a percentage of the money made is given to the Miracle League. Yes Mike, the Miracle League is a great organization, but it is apparent that the organization needs to manage it's money better and cut down its adminstration costs.

[Volunteer]

Also Mike, parents are not trained to be on the field with their child. They show up to games and if they are their child's "buddy" they are told at that time how the game is played. Many times parents do not need to be on the field because there are "volunteers" from other organizations that play the role of buddy.

[Mike-the original]

No argument that Miracle League needs to "get with it" in managing their money. If you look at the individuals listed on the executive board, none have any sort of actual business management experience. Now some of them will say that they have run family-owned businesses, but that is no excuse for actual formal management and financial training, with true business and financial experience. I believe that neither Sandie nor Raul have college degrees, but could benefit from EPCC or UTEP's Entrepeneur training to avoid bad publicity such as this.

[Mike-the original]

Looks like someone needs to re-examine the claims. Did the Better Business Bureau really look at the books or did they just give the Times a report?Were any of these businesses members of the BBB? If not a member, why pick on charities?

[Gaser]

Its better than giving your money to Bush's Stinky Hungy Homeless Vets on every coner.