Curley’s House of Style Has Your Tax Dollars! By Geniusofdespair

Curleys House of Style (I think they are also a beauty salon) is a non profit that distributes food, fliers, etc. to the needy. I know nothing about this non profit except that they asked for County Funds of $25,000 On June 10th at the Budget and Finance Committee meeting — the request came from Commissioner Audrey Edmonson, I believe it is from her discretionary fund account. I am all for helping people. I am not sure if I think the County should be administering funds to non profits in this time of budget crisis so I looked at Curley's House of Style's 990 tax returns for three years. They are on the County list of non profits that get funds. They did get County funds in 2006 and 2004-2005.

In 2006 they administered Program Services costing them $13,200 and the Management and General Funds to administer the services was $24,490. They claimed net assets of $772,587 at that time -- they took in $306,027 in 2006, part of that is county funds. I don’t know where they get other grants (maybe the County or City). In 2005 they claimed $150,000 in Contibutions/gift/grants. They administered $5,240 in Program Services and the Management and General Funds to administer the services was $18,750. They had net assets of $504,250 in 2005. In 2004 they administered Program Services costing them –0- and the Management and General Funds to administer the services was $30,800. They had net assets of $378,240. Based on 3 years, I don’t think their spending trend has changed in 2007 but who knows.

The problem I see here is: THERE IS NO PROBLEM. I HAVE RETRACTED THIS WHOLE POST. CURLEY'S IS A DESERVING CHARITY, THEY NEED MONEY. DISREGARD EVERYTHING I WROTE. THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY CASH LEFT OVER ACCORDING TO THEM IT IS MOSTLY IN KIND WHICH FOR SOME REASON GETS CARRIED OVER. THIS IS ONE BIG FAT MISTAKE ON MY PART TO QUESTION ANYTHING ABOUT CURLEY'S. THIS IS MY OFFICIAL RETRACTION.

Here is the agenda item for Curley’s request for $25,000 which was approved on June 10th:

WHEREAS, Curley’s is a grassroots 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in August 2001 with a mission to improve the quality of life for low to moderate income families, elderly, youth, the abused, and HIV/AIDS infected individuals; and
WHEREAS, Curley’s provides bulk food products to County residents who are in need; and
WHEREAS, since its incorporation in 2000, Curley’s has fed and clothed several thousand of the County’s neediest individuals and families. Approximately 1,000 clients are served weekly with the provision of bulk food products, informational flyers on diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as job availability and financial literacy seminars; and
WHEREAS, the organization is faced with serious food shortages, impeding its ability to provide food to the County’s residents who are in need; and
WHEREAS, an allocation of $25,000 from the unallocated General Fund Discretionary CBO Funding will enable Curley’s to continue to serve individuals and families throughout the County,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board approves the allocation of FY 2007-2008 unallocated General Fund Discretionary CBO funding as follows: a one-time allocation of $17,000 to Roots in the City, Inc. and an allocation of $25,000 to Curley’s House of Style, Inc.; and authorizes the Mayor or his designee to execute agreements and amendments to the agreements necessary to effectuate the allocations for and on behalf of Miami-Dade County.