MADD Mad About Criticism

There are too many unanswered questions about this organization that should make people wary about donating to their cause. Personally I will not donate to any organization who solicit by phone and they are told to send my literature. BTW this includes an organization that solicits for a police charity promoting tickets to a circus and I have yet to receive anything in the mail.

MADD's outspoken founder punished
January 17, 2007
Kevin Donovan
Staff reporter

The founder of MADD Canada, who spoke out against the national organization's fundraising practices, has been stripped of his role on the charity's two key committees.

"I feel betrayed," said John Bates, 79, whose quarter-century battle against drinking and driving earned him the Order of Canada.

Bates learned Monday evening he was gone from the charity's finance and policy committees, which monitor the organization's expenditures and revenues, and set the tone for the charity.

The news came to Bates during a brief teleconference involving five of the 17 board members of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

"This seems to be in response to asking too many questions," Bates said yesterday. "But I don't believe in spending donor money the way MADD head office does and I feel I had a responsibility to speak out."

A recent Star investigation, in which Bates was quoted, revealed that most of the millions MADD raises stays with the paid telemarketers, door knockers and direct mail companies hired by the charity to raise cash.

While MADD insists that 83.6 per cent of donated funds goes to the charity's programs, the Star found that it was virtually the reverse, with about 81 per cent of MADD money spent on fundraising and administration.

MADD