A woman was arrested and charged with first-degree theft and unauthorized use of a credit card and it just so happens she’s a former Make-A-Wish CEO.
CEO Caught Red Handed
40-year-old Jennifer Woodley used to hold the position of CEO of Make-A-Wish Iowa. She now lives in North Carolina but was booked at the Polk County Jail in Des Moines, Iowa on Thursday. She was later released after she was booked.
It is not known yet according to reports if she has obtained an attorney yet.
Last summer, Make-A-Wish Iowa found financial irregulates that were discovered through a compliance review. Woodley had then been removed from her position being the CEO for one year.
Memo Sheds Light
KWWL reports on the details that they were able to obtain through a memo:
The memo states that Jennifer Woodley is no longer serving as president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Iowa. The Executive Committee of the Make-A-Wish Iowa Board of Directors made the decision to remove Woodley after financial irregularities were discovered during an internal compliance review by the National Make-A-Wish Office, according to the memo.
Helping Sick Children Make Their Dreams Come True
Joshua Norton, chairman of the Make-A-Wish Iowa Board of Directors, verified that the memo was sent out to the nonprofit’s stakeholders.
“We are surprised and saddened by these events,” the memo stated. “We have a significant responsibility to our donors, families and children to safeguard every dollar given to us and we take this stewardship role very seriously. Therefore, we will continue to work with our National Office as we review key expenditures and other financial records. Based upon those findings, additional measures may be taken.”
Make-A-Wish Iowa said in a statement that “the individual tied to these irregularities has been dismissed from the organization.” Make-A-Wish Iowa declined to make any additional comments regarding Woodley or the nature of the financial irregularities, saying it is a “personnel matter.”
Make-A-Wish offers children with serious illnesses a chance to fulfill a wish.
“We do that through the generosity of our donors — both individual and corporate. Every dollar is a gift and our financial management must be above reproach. Anything less is unacceptable,” Make-A-Wish Iowa’s Board of Directors said in the memo.
