William Aramony
William Aramony | |
---|---|
Born | William J. Aramony July 27, 1927 United Way of America |
Known for | building UWA into the preeminent fund-raising charity in the US; fraud |
Term | 1972 — 1992 |
William J. Aramony (July 27, 1927 – November 11, 2011) was CEO of
Early years
Aramony was born in
Aramony served in the
United Way career
Aramony began in 1954 as a staff planner for the
He was hired as CEO of the national governing body, the United Community Funds and Council of America (UCFCA)
Next, he formed a partnership with the National Football League in 1973, whereby "players and coaches made public service announcements about their involvement with United Way chapters"[9] which were broadcast during NFL games at no charge. "[T]hese associations brought widespread attention" to the United Way and in 1975, helped push donations above $1 billion for the first time.[3][9]
Aramony helped develop a core strategy, which emphasizes an annual community-wide campaign in the Fall. United Way provides assistance to employers, who provide a payroll deduction option to encourage workers to contribute to United Way. Agencies that receive United Way funding agree not to solicit donations during the UW campaign.[3]
He authored the book, United Way: The Next Hundred Years in 1987[10] and created the minority roundtable which increased minority involvement in the organization. Over his career, he helped develop numerous United Way leaders.[11] Some of these new leaders, Ralph Dickerson Jr., at United Way of New York City; Oral Suer and Norman O. Taylor from United Way of the National Capital Area, were later involved in expense report scandals.[12]
Aramony was awarded the Silver Buffalo Award in 1988 by the National council of the Boy Scouts of America. It is presented for noteworthy and extraordinary service to youth on a national basis.[13] During his tenure, United Way receipts rose from $787 million in 1970 to more than $3.1 billion in 1990 ($1.04 billion in 1970 dollars).[3][6]
Scandal begins
Aramony and his wife, Bebe were separated in 1988.
When Aramony was questioned about the allegations, he denied any wrongdoing. His divorce became final in 1991.
During a teleconference on February 27, 1992, Aramony announced his retirement with full pension benefits as soon as a successor was chosen. Until then, he would continue to receive his $390,000 salary and $73,000 in other compensation. When Jay R. Smith, publisher of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution and an active volunteer at United Way of Atlanta asked Aramony if he felt that they were not owed an apology, Aramony said:
Well, Jay, you absolutely are. I do apologize for any problems that my lack of sensitivity to perceptions has caused this movement. I do it happily and gladly to you and everyone else. I would never do anything at all that hurt local United Ways, the mission or the people we serve.[15]
The following day, after an avalanche of calls from local chapters demanding his ousting, senior vice president Alan S. Cooper was named acting president.[6]
Indictment
The
Other issues
A secondary issue that was not litigated was the alleged sexual harassment committed by William Aramony. He was accused of pressuring numerous office workers to have sex with him, though no such accusations were ever formally filed. According to the indictment, he propositioned female employees and offered the women "financial benefits" if they had sex with him and transferred or suppressed the careers of "those who rebuffed him."[18]
Rina Duncan, Aramony's former secretary, testified that she had had an affair with Aramony beginning shortly after she was hired in 1982 and lasting until 1985. During trial, the court admitted testimony from several UWA female employees who testified that they had sexual relationships with Aramony, and from two UWA employees who rejected Aramony’s sexual advances in 1985.[19]
Villasor sisters and other affairs
When Lisa Villasor Thomas was 22, she met William Aramony on an airplane. He got her a job at UWA and their affair began in July 1986. They traveled together to San Francisco, New York City and other locations for business. Everything was fine until he "met someone he liked even more: her kid sister."[18]
Lori Villasor graduated from high school in Macclenny, Florida in 1986.[20] She was unsure what to do with her life, so she accepted her older sister’s invitation to move to Alexandria, Virginia and share an apartment. Soon after meeting the 17-year-old Lori, the 59-year-old Aramony began pursuing her. Lisa Thomas, outraged, told Aramony that she "didn't want him contacting me or Lori at all".[18]
Aramony arranged for a UWA subsidiary to purchase an expensive New York City condominium and furnished it lavishly with $459,000 Partnership Umbrella dollars.[18] Aramony claimed that it was a better deal for UWA than the apartment that had been rented for almost 20 years.[21] However, he also used it for his romantic trysts.[20] Aramony was alleged to have siphoned thousands of charity dollars through Partnership Umbrella to spend on fancy meals, trips and gifts, to keep Villasor as his mistress.[22]
Lori Villasor testified that she had received compensation of $27,500 for two consecutive years as a UWA employee for working on a real estate deal which actually required only "an hour or so" of her time.[23] Aramony also flew Villasor and her younger sister LuAnn to Las Vegas as a graduation gift for LuAnn.[22]
Rina Duncan, Aramony's assistant, stated that after Aramony began dating Villasor, "he would run up big bills for airplane flights and entertainment."[23] Ms. Duncan admitted that she had altered Aramony's expense accounts for seven years by substituting the names of clients for Ms. Villasor's name and charging UWA for personal luxury items given to Ms. Villasor.[23]
At one point, Villasor threatened to leave Aramony if Duncan continued to work for him. Time magazine notes that Aramony found a position "for Duncan at Partnership Umbrella, the U.W.A. spin-off company that he would use to fund his affair with Villasor."[22]
According to court documents, Aramony was also seeing another UWA employee between 1987 and 1991. Aramony purchased half ownership of a race horse, Stylish Affair, in her name[18] and was alleged to have spent $125,576.92 to purchase a Florida condominium for her use until her retirement in May 1991. He also allegedly used $10,000 of United Way funds to furnish the condominium.[24]
Prosecution
On April 3, 1995, after a three-week trial, Aramony was convicted in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia on 23 counts including conspiracy to defraud, mail fraud, wire fraud, transportation of fraudulently acquired property, engaging in monetary transactions in unlawful activity, filing false tax returns and aiding in the filing of false tax returns.[2] Money laundering charges were dismissed. He was sentenced to 7 years in prison, fined $300,000, and served time at the Federal Prison Camp at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, near Goldsboro, North Carolina[11] with BOP number 40569-083.
Upon appeal, the $300,000 fine was vacated by the United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit based on Aramony's inability to pay.[25] He was released from prison on September 28, 2001[26] after six years of incarceration and was on probation for three additional years.[citation needed]
Aramony consistently denied any wrongdoing. He appealed his convictions and sentences; nearly all of his appeals were denied. "Aramony's lawyer says his client's judgment was impaired because of brain atrophy" and noted "that Aramony had a cancer that led to surgical castration" while he was seeing Lori Villasor.[18] Lori Villasor ended her affair with Aramony in 1992.[22]
While still incarcerated in 1996, Aramony filed a $5 million lawsuit against UWA, claiming he was denied earnings and retirement benefits that were due him.[8] UWA counter-sued and a United States district court issued a split decision which both parties appealed. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a portion of the lower court's decision: United Way of America owed Aramony $2.4 million in pension benefits, less UWF's $2.02 million award against Aramony. After subtracting the amount Aramony owed UWA from the New York state attorney general's judgement against him, applicable income tax withholdings and attorney's fees, Aramony received $7,871.[17]
Later life and death
Aramony married again in 2002 to Gail Manza. According to The New York Times, Aramony devoted a great deal of his time during the 2000s to an initiative for Middle East Jewish, Muslim and Christian communities to encourage fellowship, mediation services and visitor exchange.[5]
He died in late 2011 at his son's
Publications
- The United Way: The Next Hundred Years, ISBN 1-55611-039-1, Dutton Adult, April 1987
References
- ^ Barrett, William P.: "America's Biggest Charities," Forbes Magazine, December 6, 2010.
- ^ a b "Old Battles and New Challenges" Archived 2012-04-23 at the Wayback Machine Non-Profit Times, April 1, 2002
- ^ a b c d Cushman, Jr., John H.:"Charity Leader's Success Was Also His Undoing" New York Times, February 28, 1992
- ^ a b c New York Times: April 4, 1992-United Way's Ex-Leaders
- ^ a b c d e f g McFadden, Robert D.: "William Aramony, United Way Leader Who Was Jailed for Fraud, Dies at 84" New York Times, November 13, 2011
- ^ a b c Time Magazine: June 24, 2001-Resignation Charity Begins At Home by Michael Duffy
- ^ a b Eisenberg, Pablo (November 22, 2011). "The Death of a Flamboyant Charity Wrongdoer Sends a Reminder to Regulators". Chronicle of Philanthropy. Retrieved 31 August 2012.
- ^ a b Funding Universe: Company Histories-United Way of America
- ^ a b United Way of America: company history Funding Universe. Accessed 2009-02-02.
- ^ "United Way: The Next One Hundred Years" Amazon website, book listing
- ^ a b c d e Sinclair, Matthew: "William Aramony is Back on the Streets" Archived 2010-12-05 at the Wayback Machine NonProfit Times, March 1, 2002
- ^ New York Times: April 14, 2006-United Way Says Ex-Leader Took Assets by Stephanie Strom
- ^ "Silver Buffalo Award Winners 1989-1980" Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine Boy Scouts of America website
- ^ AP: "Charity Leader Had Warning On Misconduct" New York Times, March 15, 1995
- ^ a b Shepard, Charles E.: "United Way Head Resigns Over Spending Habits" Washington Post, February 28, 1992
- ^ Shenk, David: "Board Stiffs: United Way of America's Board of Governors", Washington Monthly, May 1992
- ^ a b Non-Profit Times: July 1, 2001-United Way Finally Beats Convict Aramony by Matthew Sinclair
- ^ a b c d e f New York Daily News: March 10th 1995- EX-CHARITY CHIEF WOOED HER KID SIS By Laurie C. Merrill
- ^ The Journal Times: March 22nd 1995- Ex-United Way chief accused of sexual advances By Associated Press
- ^ a b Sanz, Cynthia: "A Little Help for His Friends" People magazine, April 17, 1995
- ^ Barringer, Felicity: "Ex-Chief of United Way Vows to Fight Accusations" New York Times, April 10, 1992
- ^ a b c d Time Magazine: October 3, 1994-Charitable Seductions
- ^ a b c New York Times: March 15, 1995- Charity Leader Had Warning On Misconduct
- ^ New York Courts website: State of New York against WILLIAM A. ARAMONY, and THOMAS J. MERLO
- ^ "UNITED STATES v. ARAMONY" Findlaw website
- ^ "Federal Bureau of Prisons: Inmate Locator-William Aramony". Archived from the original on 2009-04-23. Retrieved 2008-09-27.