NEWARK – The National Animal Welfare Foundation (NAWF) and principal Patrick G. Jemas are permanently banned from any future charitable activities in New Jersey and from registering and operating as a charitable organization, independent paid fund-raiser or solicitor in New Jersey based upon a final judgment and order, Attorney General Zulima V. Farber and Consumer Affairs Director Kimberly Ricketts announced.

“This judgment underscores that New Jersey will not tolerate those who take advantage of the generosity of our citizens and break the law,” said Attorney General Farber. “This decision will serve as a warning to disreputable charities and organizations throughout New Jersey and will protect those legitimate charities who do comply with our charities laws.”

Specifically, the final judgment:

permanently bars NAWF and Jemas from conducting any fund raising activities including, but not limited to, the solicitation of charitable contributions by telephone or mail, and from conducting solicitations of charitable contributions;

permanently bars NAWF and Jemas from applying for registration as a charitable organization, independent paid fund raiser or solicitor;

permanently bars NAWF and Jemas from serving as an officer, director, owner, agent, employee, volunteer or representative of any fund-raising corporation which conducts solicitations or which solicits charitable contributions;

authorizes the state to collect and impound collection canisters and orders NAWF and Jemas to cooperate fully in that effort; and

orders NAWF and Jemas to pay civil penalties, attorneys’ fees and investigative costs in the total amount of $330,804.26.

“This case is one of the more egregious examples we have seen of one unprincipled individual preying on the good intentions of well-meaning people solely for personal gain,” said Consumer Affairs Director Ricketts. “By permanently barring them from charitable activities, this judgment helps ensure that NAWF and Jemas never again take advantage of New Jersey consumers.”

The Attorney General’s Office and Division of Consumer Affairs filed suit in January, 2006 against the Union Township charity and its principal for allegedly misleading consumers about how their donations would be used. NAWF and Jemas failed to comply with the Charitable Registration and Investigation Act and related regulations in numerous ways including making untruthful statements and misrepresentations, failing to include a required statement on canisters, failing to maintain complete and accurate records and failing to comply with the Attorney General’s investigation.

Between fiscal years 2002 and 2005, NAWF collected $70,795 in canister donations but spent $75,891 on expenses that included fund-raising, payroll, meals, automobiles and printing. In only one of these fiscal years did the reported canister donations exceed the organization’s reported expenses.

Deputy Attorney General Brian M. Brennan represented the State in this matter.

Any consumer who sees a NAWF canister should call the Division at 973-504-6299 to report its location. The public can also obtain information about charitable organizations and paid fund-raisers who are registered to operate in New Jersey by contacting Consumer Affairs’ Charitable Registration Unit at 973-504-6215 or by going to the Unit’s web site, www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/ocp.htm#charity.

###