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Did “media lies” destroy Kid Care

There is a passage in Runyard Kipling’s classic poem If that declares, “If you can hear the truth that you’ve spoken/Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools, Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken, And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools…”, that just about sums up what happened to Carol and Hurt Porter when an investigation (initiated by Channel 13’s intellectual weapon of mass destruction, Wayne Dolcefino), literally destroyed Kid Care—as appreciative, struggling minority families and thousands of hungry kids once knew it.

But what’s new? There is plenty of evidence to support the allegations that Dolcefino’s purpose in life is to destroy African American institutions that make a difference in their community. And I’m sure Black leaders haven’t forgotten how Dolcefino--with the help of an insidious mainstream media, and the publisher of “Houston’s Leading Black Newspaper”-- changed the course of Houston, Texas’ Black history. I know I’ll never forget how they ambushed a front running Rep. Sylvester Turner in the 1991 mayoral race? Well, I haven’t. And that’s why I’m advising the Porters to precede with utmost care, because they aren’t just fighting an investigative TV reporter and/or a TV station--as well as the attorney general’s office-- but, instead, they’re fighting evil in high places.

They’re dealing with a system that will change the rules whenever it becomes detrimental for them to play by them. While I applaud the Porter’s courage, resolve and sense of justice, as publisher of Texas’ widest circulated and read newspaper with a Black perspective, I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t warn them that truth don’t always prevail. I suspect it’ll cost them more than the settlement to fight for their good name. Even so, you can’t help but be proud of the Porters who have stood strong in the face of an onslaught of bad press, unfounded allegations and outright lies, even after the Attorney General offered them a deal that they felt they couldn’t refuse. If you aren’t up on the Kid Care case, allow us to share an editorial from Houston’s only daily.
The editorial actually reads somewhat like an apology for helping Dolcefino, whose unsolicited media attack on them literally destroyed their life’s work. The May 4, 2004 piece (‘TAKING CARE Kid-Care: fumbled finances but admirably fed kids”) reads: “Last year, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said Kid-Care founders Carol and Hurt Porter Jr. enriched themselves through "gross misappropriation" of organization funds. The attorney general's office filed a lawsuit accusing the Porters of using thousands of dollars for personal airline travel, luxury goods and lavish meals. More recently, the attorney general softened his take on the situation, offering to settle the case for $1.6 million. In an outline of the proposed agreement, Susan K. Staricka, chief of the attorney general's charitable trusts division, acknowledged.

Although the evidence as developed thus far could suggest that Carol and Hurt Porter Jr. did not engage in any intentionally malicious or fraudulent conduct. It is apparent that they caused Kid-Care to engage in negligent and grossly negligent conduct and misrepresentation. The Porters launched Kid-Care in 1984 out of an admirable desire to ease the suffering of hungry children. In 1991, when the mission outgrew the capacity of their home kitchen, the couple incorporated as a nonprofit. The nonprofit then used large donations from public and private sources to feed more children. The operation might simply have grown bigger than the Porters' capacity to competently run it. Nevertheless, the Porters' food preparation and distribution machine was preparing and delivering an astonishing 800 meals each weekday to youngsters who came to depend on the food.

“They also came to know and appreciate Carol Porter, who was indisputably a helpful presence in impoverished neighborhoods. That has to count for something. Whether by fraud or bumbling, however, Kid-Care money is missing. The attorney general is right to pursue a reimbursement to signal that Texas will not tolerate abuses of the public trust in nonprofit endeavors. Many children were fed, but even the best intentions and a praiseworthy mission cannot relieve an organization's leaders of their fiduciary duty.” It wasn’t surprising that Carol, who is the sister of the late Black radio personality, Novella Smith (KYOK’s “Dizzy Lizzie”), told the attorney general what he could do with his supposedly generous offer.
“We know that Dolcefino built his stories on lies. We have the evidence. We want our day in court,” says Carol, while Hurt, a former radio personality himself, seems to be laying back and letting his more fiery soulmate do her thing, but definitely has her back. “I think a person’s good name is way to important to play with,” he affirms. The Porter’s already have proven that they aren’t people who grovel when you mess with them. Fact is, they filed a counter lawsuit on Dolcefino; his employer, KTRK-TV Channel 13; ABC TV, which owns the station; and the Walt Disney Co., which owns ABC. The lawsuit accuses Dolcefino, et al, of breaking a promise to talk with them before airing a report critical of the charity.

Carol still insists that Dolcefino's failure to meet with Kid-Care was intentional. “He wanted to show his power and put me in my place,” Carol told African American News & Issues during a telephone interview. "There isn't a First Amendment right to break a promise," she said. “The attorney general knows he’s wrong. That’s why they wants to try to make it go away without going to court. He’s in a catch-22 situation, for making a ruling on Wayne’s lies.” We again warned Carol that she could be given the “Sylvester” treatment, who got shafted by the judge although he won a case against Dolcefino and Channel 13. The Porters might be kind hearted, caring people, but they “ain’t” hardly politically naïve, or even too forgiving when it comes to smearing their good name.

Carol apparently is simply tired of seeing people with a little power treat the Black community any way they want to with impunity, and that’s why “WE” all, including Sylvester (Rep. Turner), must watch her back on this one. Because, in the profound words of a great nation’s, great leader, Carol evidentially is telling the attorney general, “Bring it on!”