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Kids Voting shuts down

Money woes sink Dayton chapter, board official says.

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By Ken McCall, Staff Writer Updated 12:49 AM Thursday, February 4, 2010

The Dayton region chapter of Kids Voting, a nonprofit and nonpartisan national election education program for school-aged children, has suspended operations because of financial difficulties.

Toni Perry Gillispie, president of the volunteer board of directors, said the organization closed its doors Nov. 6.

Gillispie said the organization is doing an internal review “assessing exactly what has happened.” As part of that review, board member Connie Woods, a certified public accountant, is analyzing the nonprofit’s records.

“There were some issues with keeping the books,” Gillispie said. “We’re seeking counsel from a variety of sources for the best path to take to the resolution of our situation.” The board has discussed bankruptcy, she said.

Gillispie said the organization, like many other nonprofits in the region, had felt the effects of the recession.

“Despite struggling financially, we enjoyed great success with our key programs,” she said. “We’re thankful, though, to our supporters and the youth who worked with us. We’ll be able to talk with them after we complete our review.”

Bryan Suddith, former executive director of the organization, said Kids Voting had been hurting for 18 months. “It was a victim of the economy, where donors — corporations, foundations, individuals — were focused on immediate physical needs for folks,” Suddith said. “We saw a major decline (in contributions) in 2009 as compared to 2008 and 2007.”

Suddith, who held the position for a little more than a year, was supposed to receive a $52,000 salary but said the board was forced to cut his pay in the summer. He’s now executive director of A Kid Again, a local nonprofit aimed at helping children with life-threatening illnesses.

“I know we lost some data due to a server change,” he said.“As far as I know, and my contact with Toni, everything is accounted for, so I don’t know of any issues.”

Kids Voting Dayton ran an $11,325 deficit in 2007, according to the 990 tax forms it is required to file with the IRS as a nonprofit. That year, the group took in $123,349 in contributions and grants, but spent $134,674.

Gillispie said the organization is still working on its 2008 tax returns, and will likely have to file an extension for 2009. She did not know how much the group took in or spent in those years.

Kids Voting Dayton was part of a nationwide nonprofit organization for children from kindergarten through high school aimed at increasing voter turnout and creating an informed electorate. Programs included mock elections, essay contests and the Youth in the Booth initiative that invited high school seniors to assist poll workers on Election Day.

The organization was founded in 1988 in Arizona with the help of former Dayton Daily News Editor Max Jennings. He and his wife, Carol, brought the program to Dayton in 1992.

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