RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein and Secretary of State Elaine Marshall announced Monday they are suing the Women's Cancer Fund, also known as Cancer Recovery Foundation, International (CRFI), and its owner, Gregory B. Anderson.
The lawsuit alleges that CRFI, an organization that is supposed to help provide aid and resources to female cancer patients and their families, was purposely violating telemarketing and consumer protection laws by deceiving donors.
From 2017 to 2022, CRFI allegedly raised over $18 million from donations. Donors were told that their donations would help pay for basic needs for families dealing with cancer. The mission of the organization was to “keep a roof over their head and the lights on so they can survive cancer today.”
But after investigating the organization's finances, only about 1% of the $18 million in donations, or $194, 809, actually went to help cancer patients. The remaining funds went towards Anderson's pay, for-profit fundraisers and overhead costs.
But only about 1% – $194,809 – went to help patients. The rest of the money went to pay Anderson, host for-profit fundraisers, and pay for overhead costs.
“Every time an organization like this cynically exploits folks’ charitable spirit it can damage the trust in all the good organizations working hard every day for those in need,” Secretary of State Marshall said. “So Attorney General Stein and I are proud to be part of this action to aggressively pursue justice for cancer patients and the giving public.”
The FTC and nine other states have joined in filing the complaint.