November 18, 2005

            LANSING -- Attorney General Mike Cox announced today that he has denied a California organization’s application to solicit charitable contributions in Michigan because it allegedly misused donations by advancing its president nearly $250,000 to fund his defense of criminal charges unrelated to the organization.

            “I will not allow any organization with such a questionable history to solicit funds from Michigan Citizens, especially during this time of need for many reputable charities,” said Cox. “Using donations for purposes other than those represented by the organization is a violation of Michigan’s licensing law.”

            AAAA Abilities Car Donation Foundation (AAAA) President Kent Ray Stryker, 61, was convicted by a federal jury on 12 counts of mail fraud in 2004 and began serving a 51-month sentence in March 2005. The convictions arose from Stryker’s deceptive solicitations of cash and cars on behalf of bogus charities with names closely resembling well-known, legitimate charities.  Attorney General Cox’s Administrator of Charitable Trusts testified at Stryker’s trial regarding materials the Attorney General's Office received from the organization in its attempt to obtain a license in Michigan.  The testimony also addressed Stryker's solicitation of contributions using names very similar to a number of established charities, even though the organization could not document activities that actually carried out the claimed charitable purposes.

            In the current application for a charitable solicitation license refused by Cox's office, the Van Nuys-based California charity claims its purpose is to provide quality vocational apprenticeships to disadvantaged youths and other individuals for transition to skilled employment.  AAAA has solicited vehicles under its former name, California Non-Profit Center for Living and Learning, as well as Allstate Car Donation Charity.  AAAA solicits contributions, including vehicle donations, through its Web sites, and claims donors can deliver vehicles to any one of its 113 auction sites located in 42 states – excluding Alaska, Hawaii, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming.

            Michigan law requires most charities that solicit from Michigan residents to apply for and receive a solicitation license from the Attorney General’s Office, with churches and certain other organizations exempt from the licensing requirement. For additional information and advice on charitable giving, visit the Attorney General’s Web site at www.michigan.gov/ag and click on “Charitable Giving.” Citizens may also call the Attorney General’s Charitable Trust Section at 517-373-1152 to ask about a specific charity. 

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