Peabody non-profit president speaks out

PEABODY – Dozens of Peabody Youth Foundation supporters gathered inside the Kiley School Auditorium Tuesday night as the organization?s President Fernando Braz responded to the School Committee?s recent speculation over their non-profit status.?I never expected or suspected that a program to provide benefits to Peabody children would have any problem being approved,” he read from a typed letter. “I was both surprised and disappointed to hear Mr. (Ed) Nizwantowski?s comments and even more surprised that he contacted the Attorney General?s office rather than contacting me directly. Regardless, through his contact, we for the first time, discovered that we were not listed on the state?s Web site.”Braz?s comments stem from the June 10 meeting of the School Committee, during which time, the Peabody Youth Foundation requested a waiver of the rental fee for using the high school track to run a summer athletic program. Prior to the Committee?s approval, Nizwantowski pointed out that the organization was indeed not registered as a non-profit like they claimed.Board member Cathy Gravel refuted his claims the night of that meeting, saying that the organization was in fact a non-profit and had been running as such since their inception in 2005. However, after looking into Nizwantowski?s accusations further, she, too, discovered that they were not properly registered, nor had they ever been.Gravel said that when forms were submitted back on Feb. 13, 2005, the organization received confirmation and was given a tax ID number, a number they have been using ever since.?All our paperwork has been resubmitted to the Secretary of the Commonwealth,” she said, adding that now, “it?s out of our hands.”Braz, last night, said that Nizwantowski?s report that they were not registered was “news to you and news to us.” But, Nizwantowski still pressed the fact that the group came before the Committee with false information and rushed a vote. His almost interrogation of Braz caused outbursts from the audience members.Committee member Dave McGeney, however, whole-heartedly expressed his understanding of the situation.?I accept your explanation?and believe that there was no intent to deceive anyone,” he said, adding that there is no policy that requires waiver requests be made by a non-profit. “I hope this doesn?t discourage you.”Braz explained that because of the recent events, the Attorney General?s Office has ordered his organization to stop all fundraising efforts until their status is cleared. He noted, however, that they will not cancel their summer program and will continue to run it at no cost and issue full refunds for those who have already paid.?This is a perfect example of how ?no good deed goes unpunished?,” said McGeney.Mayor Michael Bonfanti said he appreciates and understands both the concerns of Braz, as well as some of the School Committee members who looked into the issue further, but noted “good people make honest mistakes.”Braz assured the Committee that he?d notify them as soon as they get word from the State that their non-profit status has been cleared. By the end of the meeting, both Nizwantowski and Braz seemed to have smoothed things over with a respectful handshake.