Nonprofit arm of Asheville Citizen-Times City Marathon says it won’t pay partner charities until 2014

Jason Sandford December 12, 2013

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

The Lend-A-Hand nonprofit arm of the the Asheville Citizen-Times City Marathon has notified local charities that participated in its races that it won’t make promised payments until next year, according to two Ashvegas sources.

The local charities participated by manning aid stations along the route of a marathon and half-marathon in downtown Asheville in September. The volunteers were promised $500 per aid station. Some local organizations manned several aid stations, expecting a corresponding payment. With about 50 organizations participating, the total amount of money at stake is about $25,000. The reason given for the delay in payment from Lend-A-Hand? An “accounting error.”

The organizations were counting on that money to meet expenses before year’s end. Several are duly upset. Here’s a comment from an Ashvegas reader about the situation:

I am so disappointed in all this and will never volunteer for the Citizen Times Marathon again. We received a letter that “due to accounting issues” our non-profit will not be paid till 2014. Our non-profit, stood in the cold for 6 hours to man an aid station, will not be paid till nexy year. The race was at the end of September, This effects over 50+ organizations that are barely hanging on. There will be a petition circulating soon for everyone at our school to cancel their subscription. Thanks for nothing Citizen Times, screwing over your own community once again.

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Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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6 Comments

Orbit DVD December 12, 2013

Is the non-profit owned by Gannett?

Reply
1. Jason Sandford December 13, 2013
  
  It’s my understanding that it is.
  
  Reply
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FDR December 12, 2013

Hey Mark, you missed the point.

They were promised something and the ACT did not follow through for tax year 2013. Misrepresentation to get volunteers at the last minute, maybe, but just maybe it’s out of their hands.The ACT is really not a local paper anymore.

Reply
Mark December 12, 2013

Yeah…that sucks. But was it really cold? I volunteered, and it wasn’t that cold. It was actually a pretty nice day. Maybe I should have asked for my $500. I had no idea people were getting paid.

Maybe CT should get volunteers who want to help for the benefit of a great race, rather than a handout.

Reply
1. Miss Daisy December 16, 2013
  
  It was cold at 5am. People weren’t getting paid, nonprofits were allegedly getting paid. Some people volunteered to help our charities. I would not have volunteered to help the Citizen Times, or the race organizer. So this situation is a lot like the dude that grabbed money out of the bell ringer’s kettle today.
  
  Reply