Friday, June 05, 2015

Ron and Lauren Book and Their Most Annoying Charity. By Geniusofdespair

Love Her Ron - Just Don't Take Our Public Dollars for Your Charity. Don't cash in on tax dollars for  something you thought up to remedy your families' personal adversity. You know you could raise the money from the public sector: like all your clients. How about asking your pal multi billionaire Micky Arison for funds for Lauren's Kids?
I want to choose what charities I give to. I don't want the government doing it for me ESPECIALLY when the charity is headed by one of the most successful lobbyists in Florida. Ron Book has the ability to raise funds privately and not use public dollars but again and again this charity gets public dollars -- from the County as well.

According to Florida Bulldog in May:

Over the last four years, Lauren’s Kids, a nonprofit founded by the daughter of top Tallahassee lobbyist Ron Book, has become one of the Legislature’s favorite charities, raking in nearly $7 million in taxpayer funds. If and when legislators reconvene to pass a budget, that total is slated to rise to $10.8 million.


They did reconvene and they did give the charity more money. Governor Scott said, when he signed the bill to give them more OF OUR HARD EARNED TAX DOLLARS:

“We’re going to do everything we can to make this the safest place in the entire world to grow up,” Scott told the group. “Lauren and Ron, thank you for doing this.”

Well, Governor Scott, I personally think there are numerous charities more needy and I think the money you gave this charity could have gone to schools: Something you should be funding! I would give to the NAACP, Earthjustice, and the Everglades Law Center. They don't get our public dollars. Most charities fund raise in the private sector, as they should.  It is funny that you are against social programs Governor Scott and you are giving to Book's charity.

Somehow Lobbyist Ron Book has maneuvered money from every facet of government. Yes we know Lauren has her sad story with her nanny's molestation, didn't I hear Gwen Margolis also vomited on her at her wedding? That girl was born with bad luck, having given political donations when she should have been playing with girlfriends.  Was her dad setting a good example, sticking her name on financial disclosures as a teen? Was she really supporting all those candidates? Do teenagers care about politics? I think we all now know that poor Lauren was up to other things besides politics.

There are plenty of sad stories out there of needy charities. How about we fund orphan diseases like Spasmodic Torticollus. Who is looking for the cure for that crippling  disease? No one because it is not funded. Governor Scott, let's fund that. 90,000 people have that painful incurable disease in the US -- including my brother.

Let's stop funding charities with our tax dollars. Last year Ron is said to have made $5 million. He should duplicate the work of Developer Marty Margulies' funding the Lotus House, not suck from the public tit:

Lotus House women's shelter got a 20 million dollar pledge from Martin Z. Margulies.

Corporate records for Lauren's Kids:


 It is your money: What charity would you want it to go to readers?

From a reader, Book's daughter make a hefty salary at the non profit:

FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C THE ORGANIZATION REVIEWS THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY ANNUALLY TO ENSURE NONE OF THE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS OR TRUSTEES HAVE NEW INTERESTS THAT COULD GIVE RISE TO CONFLICT
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 18 THE ORGANIZATION MAKES ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST


Form 990 (2011) Page 7 Part VII Compensation of (A) Name and Title (2) Lauren F Book Vice President, (B) Average hours per week 50.00, (C) Position-Officer, (D) Reportable compensation from the organization (W-2/1099-MISC) $ 67,596.00, (E) Reportable compensation from related organizations (W-2/1099-MISC) 0, (F) Estimated amount of other compensation from the organization and related organizations 0.

Form 990 (2012) Page 7 Part VII Compensation of (A) Name and Title (2) Lauren F Book CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, (B) Average hours per week 50.00, (C) Position-Officer, (D) Reportable compensation from the organization (W-2/1099-MISC) $ 82,250.00, (E) Reportable compensation from related organizations (W-2/1099-MISC) 0, (F) Estimated amount of other compensation from the organization and related organizations $7,346.00.

Form 990 (2013) Page 7 Part VII Compensation of (A) Name and Title (2) Lauren F Book CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, (B) Average hours per week 60.00, (C) Position-Officer, (D) Reportable compensation from the organization (W-2/1099-MISC) $103,540.00, (E) Reportable compensation from related organizations (W-2/1099-MISC) 0, (F) Estimated amount of other compensation from the organization and related organizations 0.
Entity Name: LAUREN'S KIDS, INC. DOCUMENT# N07000009940 FILED Jan 15, 2015 Secretary of State CC9561003146 2015 FLORIDA NON PROFIT CORPORATION ANNUAL REPORT
Officer/Director Detail : Title PRESIDENT Name BOOK, RONALD L Address 18851 N.E. 29TH AVENUE, SUITE 1010 City-State-Zip: AVENTURA FL 33180
Title VICE PRESIDENT Name BOOK, LAUREN F Address 18851 N.E. 29TH AVENUE, SUITE 1010
City-State-Zip: AVENTURA

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

Whew, you said it. Nothing could be added.

I would give to cancer research. Not the Government, me.

Barbara said...

Thank God for people like Marty Margulies. Full Disclosure: His wife runs Lotus House so there is a family connection like with the Books.

Anonymous said...

Alzheimers Alzheimers Alzheimers

Although Book's charity is nice it is a repetitive charity in Miami. Awareness of what sexual abuse is, is good for children and is taught at home (excepting Book's home) and can be taught in school but we don't need a charity devoted to awareness, spending millions of dollars. Search for a cure to a disease that effects millions of people is much more worthy Mr. Scott. Alzheimers!!!

Book me dano said...

Yes, god this charity giving by government has to stop. We can't even take it off our taxes. I would give to Friends of the Everglades.

Anonymous said...

Don't the Book's know the 2 year nanny rule?

miaexile said...

local city councils do the same thing. our taxes should be paying for infrastructure , education and fire/police - let the public decide for themselves who to donate to.

Anonymous said...

We are double taxed. We can't take contributions as a write-off and we are paying for the contributions out of our taxes. Lawsuit.

Romulus Augustus said...

Though an I'm agnostic, Today I find myself in TOTAL agreement with G.O.D.
What about abused and shafted taxpayers who constantly take in the arse? Where's our 501C3?
Lawsuit? So that other abusive class one notch under politician and lobbyist the Lawyers can take it all?
Moral Decay is setting in there is absolutely no sense of fair play in upper echelons and once that "trickles down" to the rest of our society (already started), USA as we knew it will cease to exist thanks in great part to the like of Mr. Book and his complicit (bought and paid for) elected officials.

Anonymous said...

Is it too late to earmark some to the Clinton Foundation?

Anonymous said...

Isn't that nice, there is a billionaire in Miami who has a similar government sponsored racket to keep her daughter busy running some sort of cute children's theater, I want to know the salaries paid and actual economic and social good these foundations give the community in place of the millions they receive. I mean a study done by economists, not hired PR firms.

Anonymous said...

Lauren still looks like a little girl. Somewhere along the line she lost her childhood. Her parents should make anmends not exploit her.

cyndi said...

I give to food banks. Why? Because people do not have food and usually most of the money goes to operating costs and not people sitting behind a desk.

Anonymous said...

Ugggh. Ron Book is the worst. Its crazy he's not called out more often.

Anonymous said...

Shades of the Clinton Foundation? Money and Connections?

Anonymous said...

I disagree. as the survivor of rape by a miami dade county school employee maybe still there -- and all the kids who are abused I am happy some money is there. there is so much fraud in govt at least money is used for good purpose. go ahead and hate me for my comment - yes there are MANY worthy charities, this one as good as any, and I say take my tax dollars for it. the more money the better for this cause. I wish they could use some of it to start a campaign teaching kids from the start about boundaries and not being afraid to speak up and how to speak up etc.
There's a good chance about 30 percent of your readers if averages are valid are also a product of abuse. Let's get louder and spend more money on stopping it. Peace and love to all.

Anonymous said...

As someone who sat and counted the number of PEOPLE within my family circle, people my parents trusted including a babysitter... I was am amazed that I wasn't raped. I was fortunate to escape from dangerous situations which should have been safe for me...

My parents never knew. I never ratted out their friends, except when they put one of them on my wedding invite list. I declined his family.

The point is, it is common and it is under-reported. Why aren't existing agencies accomplishing more?

Geniusofdespair said...

Give me a break, I am not saying the charity is bad I just don't want it funded by tax dollars. Book could fund it himself. Parents and teachers teach the message- not so in the past. Children are educated on boundaries. That said, you can let millionaires have your tax dollars 'peace and love' person, I give to my own charities --- more worthy in my opinion -- don't take my tax dollars for what you think is important!!!!

youbetcha' said...

I don't believe in giving to the United Way, Children's Trust or similar Charities because I end up funding overhead and expenses for a managing charity.

Unfortunately, if you work for corporations or the county, you are browbeat into giving. If you pay taxes in the state, you are browbeat (or forced) to give money to the Children's Trust or if you eat out, you pay tax to provide the Homeless Trust a pile of money (oops, Ron Book again!). The list can be endless and totally without your cooperation. It becomes government creating "charity" departments.

Denise said...

Survivor of rape: why didn't you tell someone? That is all Book's charity does, tell you to tell someone.

Anonymous said...

Ron Book is a bully. Forcing taxpayers to contribute to his daughters charity is wrong.

Anonymous said...

Now Ron has his daughter running for office. I wonder who will pull those strings.

Anonymous said...

Ron Book is a partner is an illegal billboard venture in N. Miami. Book started promoting and installing illegal billboards in Miami-Dade County WHILE he was getting paid to be a lobbyist for Miami-Dade County. Creep.

Anonymous said...

FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION B, LINE 12C THE ORGANIZATION REVIEWS THE CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY ANNUALLY TO ENSURE NONE OF THE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS OR TRUSTEES HAVE NEW INTERESTS THAT COULD GIVE RISE TO CONFLICT
FORM 990, PART VI, SECTION C, LINE 18 THE ORGANIZATION MAKES ITS GOVERNING DOCUMENTS, CONFLICTS OF INTEREST POLICY, AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC UPON REQUEST


Form 990 (2011) Page 7 Part VII Compensation of (A) Name and Title (2) Lauren F Book Vice President, (B) Average hours per week 50.00, (C) Position-Officer, (D) Reportable compensation from the organization (W-2/1099-MISC) $ 67,596.00, (E) Reportable compensation from related organizations (W-2/1099-MISC) 0, (F) Estimated amount of other compensation from the organization and related organizations 0.

Form 990 (2012) Page 7 Part VII Compensation of (A) Name and Title (2) Lauren F Book CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, (B) Average hours per week 50.00, (C) Position-Officer, (D) Reportable compensation from the organization (W-2/1099-MISC) $ 82,250.00, (E) Reportable compensation from related organizations (W-2/1099-MISC) 0, (F) Estimated amount of other compensation from the organization and related organizations $7,346.00.

Form 990 (2013) Page 7 Part VII Compensation of (A) Name and Title (2) Lauren F Book CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, (B) Average hours per week 60.00, (C) Position-Officer, (D) Reportable compensation from the organization (W-2/1099-MISC) $103,540.00, (E) Reportable compensation from related organizations (W-2/1099-MISC) 0, (F) Estimated amount of other compensation from the organization and related organizations 0.
Entity Name: LAUREN'S KIDS, INC. DOCUMENT# N07000009940 FILED Jan 15, 2015 Secretary of State CC9561003146 2015 FLORIDA NON PROFIT CORPORATION ANNUAL REPORT
Officer/Director Detail : Title PRESIDENT Name BOOK, RONALD L Address 18851 N.E. 29TH AVENUE, SUITE 1010 City-State-Zip: AVENTURA FL 33180
Title VICE PRESIDENT Name BOOK, LAUREN F Address 18851 N.E. 29TH AVENUE, SUITE 1010
City-State-Zip: AVENTURA FL 33180

Anonymous said...

$103k? I guess not surprising after hearing about the Red Cross Haiti fiasco. So slimely!

Anonymous said...

I think non profits play an important role in meetings the needs of the community/society that are left unmet by the government. However, I also believe in teaching a person to fish. I started my own non profit and have raised over $1M for charity. The government would serve the organizations and ultimately the community by investing in capacity building and developments for non profits. Non profits get away with poor management because there is a lack of accountability.

The government should spend money to help strengthen non profits for the long term.

First and foremost, the government should definitely look at its infrastructure needs and make sure it is prepared with a long term vision.

Anonymous said...

Add to this, incompetence:

Miami loses $5 million in homeless funding from HUD

"In the second round of funding, the consortiums are asked to compete with each other for funding for their other projects via grant applications. Grant-writing expertise is imperative. But Mr. Book admits the complicated task fell on staffers doing it for the first time. He also said that funds for homeless people in transition — not yet ready for permanent housing — though considered crucial, was not included in the first phase of funding requests. That was an unfortunate lapse in judgment."

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/article75453842.html#storylink=cpy

Anonymous said...

Add to this, incompetence.

Miami loses $5 million in HUD funding.

In the second round of funding, the consortiums are asked to compete with each other for funding for their other projects via grant applications. Grant-writing expertise is imperative. But Mr. Book admits the complicated task fell on staffers doing it for the first time. He also said that funds for homeless people in transition — not yet ready for permanent housing — though considered crucial, was not included in the first phase of funding requests. That was an unfortunate lapse in judgment.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/article75453842.html#storylink=cpy