I-Team: Shake-up at Make-A-Wish chapter
Diana Hackney
Editor’s note: The I-Team initially reported that Diana Hackney, the CEO of the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s Rhode Island Chapter, had been fired.
In fact, her job “has been dissolved” because the local chapter “materially breached” its obligations with the national organization, according to a spokesman for the national office. And, as the I-Team reported, the local chapter’s charter was revoked “for failure to disclose the Ms. Hackney’s salary on IRS form 990, as required.“
Additionally, the original story reported that Ms. Hackney disclosed “confidential medical information” about Make-a-Wish children. A later release from the national Make-a-Wish Foundation said only that she disclosed “confidential information.“
NBC 10 has offered Hackney the opportunity to tell her side of this story. So far, she has not responded to the offer.
The original story appears below:
CRANSTON, R.I.—The president and chief executive officer of the Rhode Island chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation has been fired, the NBC 10 I-Team reported Tuesday.
The local chapter’s charter was revoked last year, and the woman at the top is being replaced.
Diana Hackney was the president and CEO of the local Make-A-Wish chapter. She was making $118,000 a year in 2006.
An I-Team review of the chapter’s IRS filings showed that she failed to disclose her salary, as required by law, for two years in a row.
It also was found that she disclosed on IRS forms confidential information about children with life-threatening medical conditions who had their wishes fulfilled.
Related Link: Make-A-Wish Foundation
The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants wishes to children with life-threatening diseases. They often get to meet their favorite celebrities or visit favorite places.
“The national office has removed Diana Hackney, as of Monday of this week,“ said Brent Goodrich, a spokesman for the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s national office.
Her removal was the result of a court-ordered arbitration that came to a conclusion on Thursday, according to Goodrich.
The local chapter’s charter was revoked for “intentionally submitting inaccurate information to the Internal Revenue Service,“ according to court documents.
The spokesman at the national office told the I-Team that a “transition team” is in place at the local chapter’s offices in Cranston and that wishes are still being processed.
Efforts to reach Hackney were not successful.
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Reader Reactions
I too am very disappointed in Jim Taracani reporting of the Make A Wish issue here in Rhode Island. As Co-Chair of last year’s Gala and a loyal volunteer for the last five years, I am very upset at the one-sided reporting of the issues with the reporting issues. The Vermont Chapter of Make A Wish also did not report their CEO’s salary separately but aggregated it. Were they shut down, no. Why did the Compliance Director of Make A Wish approve the aggregated reporting. Why did National approve reporting of children’s name since 1992 and then report it as an issue. Dr. Hackney lived, breathed and cared MAW. Her loss will be felt by all involved in the program. I feel strongly that this was a under-handed decision by National to punish a chapter with draconian measures. Rhode Island may be a small state but we care about our issues and want our charities in state; not overseen by another Chapter.
I would like to thank Diana and her wonderful staff for being so dedicated to our sick children. Also thank you for allowing me to visit the families of our children with life threatening illnesses. Our chapter was unique in the granting of a wish. Two wishgranters would bring toys and games to the family on the initial visit which brought joy to the child. Once the wish was granted, the same two wishgranters would bring the necessary info along with shirts, hats, badges, luggage if needed, and another gift for the child. Other chapters do not bring toys and games and they mail the info for the wish to the family. I will especially miss meeting the child and the family because I have met and made friends with so many beautiful children that have touched my life forever!! Thank you MAWRI!!!!
This news is absolutely shocking and unnecessary. The RI makeawish chapter staff have done everything that they can to grant a child’s wish without asking for anything. This is absolutely ridiculous. Why close the whole chapter? Diana and the rest of the staff have work so hard for years for the kids and all of the sudden everything vanished because of this horrible accusation. What will become of the wish kids? This is a nonprofit charity. Everyone that work there are in it for the kids. Give them a break!! I will miss everyone that worked there. Best wishes to all!
I just started volunteering for Make A Wish, and really enjoyed the positive things this organization did for the sick children. I also felt good about myself, that i was making a sick child’s dream come true. I am so upset that this is coming to an end, as the RI Chapter will be closing. If there was any problems with the head person of this Chapter, it should of been resolved with that them, not close the whole Chapter down, and fire the other staff that had nothing to do with what happened. What about the poor sick children that might only have that last dream to wish for. Does anyone care?
I am so sad to hear about Make A Wish Foundations recent closing. I have volunteered with the organization for some time now and have thoroughly enjoyed helping them raise money for the children. I think it is terrible that nationals could shut down the Rhode Island branch after they just successfully granted their 1,000th wish. It is sad to know that wishes will no longer be granted for our neighborhood children anymore.
I have been involved with this foundation for over 8 years in numerous voluntary roles including volunteer, wish granter, and fundraiser. In fact I run a fundraising event every year with every penny going to grant wishes to Rhode Island kids. What makes Make A Wish of Rhode Island so special is that it takes care of our own kids. These kids are our family, our neighbors, and our friends. I am sickened by the actions of the national organization. To think they feel as though they can come into this state, and confiscate money that was donated for Rhode Island kids and then ship it off somewhere else is disgusting. Every person I have every met through this organization is involved for one reason and one reason only, to help these kids. The Make A Wish of America has made it clear that they care more about there business than the kids. I will do everything I can to help any kid who needs it, but I will never again be associated with the Make A Wish organization. I encourage anyone who has previously donated money to this organization to send it elsewhere, because they can no longer assure you that it will go exclusively to Rhode Island kids. There are plenty of other ways to help these kids. As far as I am concerned, this organization no longer deserves the priviledge of granting wishes. This should be reserved for those of us who really care about the kids and not just the business.
I have always respected and watched channel 10 exclusively for 30 years until Jim Taricani’s report yesterday on Make-A-Wish Foundation of RI (MAWFRI.) I was shocked and saddened by the inaccuracies and lack of verification of the piece. It appeared like an attempt at sensationalism at best. Since Dr. Diana Hackney came to work at MAWFRI the revenues have tripled and the wishes doubled. Has Jim Taricani checked to see how many other chapters made the same mistakes and yet did not have their charters revoked? Did Jim Taricani know that MAWFRi was following the advice of the National Compliance Director when making those mistakes? Is Jim Taricani aware that it was the RI brand, board and staff that were removed? Is he aware that the 990’s in question were approved by the national office as well as a national auditing firm and that the IRS has not filed a complaint? In my opinion, this is merely a plot by the National office to confiscate the funds so generously donated by the RI donors and take them to Massachusetts. I have worked with numerous non-profit organizations over the years and Dr. Hackney’s dedication and devotion to the mission of the organization and the children served is unsurpassed. She should be applauded, not vilified.
I am so upset to hear about the recent actions that have taken place and resulted in the dissolution of the Rhode Island chapter of the Make –A-Wish Foundation. As a former employee, I can vouch for the upstanding character and tireless dedication of not only Dr. Hackney, but each and every member of the RI staff. I have seen firsthand the impact of a wish on countless Rhode Island children and their families, and know that the closing of this chapter is a great loss that will be felt by all – wish families, volunteers, and perhaps even at the National office. The Rhode Island community has showed continued support for the Foundation since its inception, and I am disappointed that media outlets such as Channel 10 have not investigated this story further—- It seems it has been so soon forgotten that this channel has not only been a strong supporter of the chapter and its cause, but has also covered and shared in the chapter’s successes. While I appreciate the “Editor’s note” before the article, I feel that the tone is sarcastic and the attitude towards Dr. Hackney is not only disrespectful, but completely unfair. While it seems as though poor politics have brought an end to a wonderful era, I truly hope that the members of the Make-A-Wish family in Rhode Island know that the chapter continuously sought to bring the very best of magic to the community’s wish children, and that the legacy of happiness it has left behind is never forgotten. To the staff of the Rhode Island chapter: we all share in your frustration, but are proud of your efforts – I am happy to call each of you friends. To the National office: I hope that you find a way to mend the hurt you are causing to this small state, and that the countless children whose wishes are pending do not fall through the cracks as a result of your decisions.
As a RI Make-A-Wish volunteer for years, I saw first hand how dedicated our chapter was and how many wonderful kids’ wishes were granted. Over the past year, we had learned of the national chapter’s effort to close the RI chapter down due to consolidation. It’s absurd that they feel they had to fire an entire office staff of wonderful personnel while they are pointing the finger at only one. Why not leave the chapter open and correct any mistake? There has been no communication to all the volunteers about lots of our kids who are currently in the wish process. We are all in it for the kids! If they were, we would be receiving some kind of reassurance that all was being taken care of for the kids…..not so!!! They should be stating the truth and communicating with the people that have held this chapter together all these years. RI needs this chapter and its dedicated staff and volunteers!!! We hope all our Wish Families out there know that we’re still here fighting for them.
Karen Neumann
Make A Wish RI Volunteer
The RI Make A Wish Chapter and Diana Hackney along with her tireless and wonderful team have made it possible for 1000 wishes to be granted here in the smallest state in the union. It is to bad that the National Make a Wish Foundation has had another agenda that does not include our wonderful state. I have never met a more respectable, motivated and passionate person than Diana. National signed off on all of the returns it seems odd that when they have other plans they need a fall guy.
Thank you Diana and the Make a Wish team for allowing me to participate in these childrens lives.
You gave your hearts and souls..
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