Being charitable is giving money, or any aide to people who need it. But when those who can spare the money take away from the charity, they're given a jail sentence.
Jacquelyn Allen-MacGregor was ordered Monday to serve four years in prison, three years of supervised release and pay $2.08 million in restitution for embezzling more than $2 million from the East Lansing-based Capital Area United Way, which employed her for 20 years. Allen-MacGregor certainly deserves to go to prison, but four years seems like a light punishment for stealing from a charity. A more longer term would be appropriate.
Lets look at the facts. Allen-MacGregor stole money from a charity to buy show horses, to which she claims an addiction. To do so, she forged checks and made illegal financial transactions during the course of nine years. Because of the addiction, her lawyer argued for an even lighter sentence. The whole ordeal is something Allen-MacGregor can't be lightly forgiven for. The scandal forced the president of the chapter to resign.
In any case, it's important to remember not everyone who works for the United Way is like Allen-MacGregor. The charity is still a giving organization. Though it might be harder for people to open their wallets for good causes sponsored by the scandal riddled charity, the United Way remains just that - a good cause.
There's no point in no longer giving to charity because one woman embezzles millions of dollars based on the claim she's hooked on horses. Even if people are convinced the Capital Area United Way is staffed by a bunch of no-good thieves, there are plenty of other charities that help people in need.
The United Way will remain a righteous organization. The Capital Area United Way Board Chair Thomas Chirgwin announced "16 fundamental changes" to improve the operations of the charity. They include adopting a donor bill of rights, setting into place new internal control procedures and policies and "ensuring public accountability for ongoing fundamental change." The charity also is interviewing candidates for the open presidency. It expects to have someone fill to position by early-to-mid July.
It's good to see the charity making an effort to save face, though they did no wrong. People need to see the importance of charitable donation and the place it has in society.
Now more than ever, it's important for people to trust local charities and open their hearts and their pocketbooks. It's also important to understand Allen-MacGregor is one of a kind: one bad apple won't spoil the bunch. Though the sentence is light, it's good to see a thief get punished for her crimes.
Whether she's stealing from the corner store or a reputable charity, theft is theft.
For Allen-MacGregor, apologizing is not enough. She should: serve the full length of her term learning from her error.
More importantly, people must continue to help those in need via local charities such as the United Way.
