Golden State Today

Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and a coalition of 10 attorneys general, has filed a lawsuit against Cancer Recovery Foundation International, Inc. (CRF) and its president, Gregory Anderson, for deceptive practices in running sham charities. The coalition is seeking a permanent injunction to prevent CRF and Anderson from operating and to stop future violations of the law.

Bonta stated, "Cancer Recovery Foundation solicited and misused generous donations from hardworking families - in California and across the nation - who wanted to help battle cancer, and support cancer patients and their families." He emphasized the importance of holding deceptive charities like CRF accountable and protecting donors, beneficiaries, and organizations from such harmful practices.

The Women’s Cancer Fund, one of the entities operated by CRF, collected $18 million from donors between 2017 and 2022, with promises to assist cancer patients. However, instead of fulfilling their commitments, a significant portion of the funds were used for the personal benefit of Gregory Anderson. The lawsuit reveals that CRF only spent a mere 1% of the funds on supporting cancer patients, while Anderson paid himself a salary of $775,139, far exceeding the amount given to those in need.

Furthermore, CRF and Anderson were found to have misled donors through false claims and deceptive practices. Anderson approved contracts with fundraisers who would receive a large percentage of the funds raised, while misleading donors about the impact of their contributions. The Women’s Cancer Fund made false promises to donors, misrepresenting how their donations would be used to support women battling cancer.

The California Department of Justice, under Bonta's leadership, works to regulate charities and fundraisers to ensure that charitable assets are used for their intended purposes and not misapplied through fraud. Donors are encouraged to research charities before donating to ensure their contributions are used appropriately.

In joining the lawsuit, Attorney General Bonta stands with the FTC and other attorneys general from various states to hold CRF and Anderson accountable for their deceptive practices. The coalition seeks to protect donors and uphold the integrity of charitable organizations.