It has taken over a week for Urban Dreams to show detailed financial information about how they administered United Way finds for the West side boxing club. Thursday directors at the organization sat down to explain where tens of thousands of dollars have gone each year.
"United Way said there is no other program like this,'' said Urban Dreams executive director Wayne Ford, "United way normally doesn't fund programs like this, but we came up with a formula and this formula was passed by the chief of police."
Under that formula, which was established five years ago, Urban Dreams was given in upwards of $33 thousand to keep the west side boxing club going after it's founder, Edgar Young, passed away.
In 2005 to 2006 the club allocated over 50% of the grant to administration fees. Urban Dreams assistant executive director Bruce Wilson explained labeling the money as an administration fee was wrong because the money was used as a direct expense to keep the program going.
"It really was a direct program expense," said Wilson, "For example the people at urban dreams are charging the program for the time they would be working and were spending on it as a direct expense to the program. It wasn't just a general, here were going to charge X amount for administration."
This week dozens of concerned neighbors have voiced concerns about how urban dreams administered funds. The united way has stated the programs outcomes were consistent with their goals.
"United Way said there is no other program like this,'' said Urban Dreams executive director Wayne Ford, "United way normally doesn't fund programs like this, but we came up with a formula and this formula was passed by the chief of police."
Under that formula, which was established five years ago, Urban Dreams was given in upwards of $33 thousand to keep the west side boxing club going after it's founder, Edgar Young, passed away.
In 2005 to 2006 the club allocated over 50% of the grant to administration fees. Urban Dreams assistant executive director Bruce Wilson explained labeling the money as an administration fee was wrong because the money was used as a direct expense to keep the program going.
"It really was a direct program expense," said Wilson, "For example the people at urban dreams are charging the program for the time they would be working and were spending on it as a direct expense to the program. It wasn't just a general, here were going to charge X amount for administration."
This week dozens of concerned neighbors have voiced concerns about how urban dreams administered funds. The united way has stated the programs outcomes were consistent with their goals.
