Mt. Pleasant parents get WAC'd!

Are you one of those parents who have made a "tax deductible" donation to the Westlake Athletic Booster Club?  Then you might be interested to know that your donation wasn't "tax deductible" at all. 

You see, the Westlake Athletic Booster Club hasn't filed a tax return since 2009, and accordingly, the IRS has formally revoked the organization's tax-exempt status, effective May 15, 2013.  However, that fact has not deterred the WAC from continuing to promote itself as a "community based 501(c) organization" (which by the way is not a legitimate exempt classification) on its website and School calendar, and further claiming that donations to the WAC are "tax deductible".  The organizations' elected officers are well aware of the fact that they have not filed tax returns since 2009 and that the IRS has revoked the WAC's tax-exempt status.  Yet, they continue to lie to the public; and well intentioned residents still make what they believe to be "tax-exempt" donations to this undeserving, corrupt organization. 

Failing to properly file tax returns can result in severe repercussions - just ask Al Capone!  What the WAC is doing is criminal.  The officers of the organization cannot claim ignorance of the facts here, since they are very well aware that they have not filed tax returns for years.  Through their felonious actions, these WAC officials have placed donors in potential jeopardy, because if a donor is audited by IRS, any claimed tax-exempt donations made to the WAC would be ruled fraudulent.  Accordingly, the unsuspecting donor could face IRS penalties as a result of the criminal actions of the WAC officials.

How does the WAC get away with this?  Who is responsible for oversight of this group?  Consider the following factors, when trying to determine the answers to those questions.

The WAC is identified in the School calendar as the "liaison between the community and Westlake's athletic department".  Since the Westlake Athletic Department is a department under the authority of the Mount Pleasant School District, it would therefore be understood that the District has responsibility for the actions of this "liaison" organization.  It is blatantly obvious that the officials of the WAC - President Anthony Sardo; Vice-President Ray Colabatistto; Vice-President Pat Donnery; and the Chairman of the Membership and Football Committees, Pete DiNota, all have a "very close" relationship with School Board President James Grieco, Superintendent Susan Guiney and Athletic Director Donna Pirro.  Were Grieco, Guiney and Pirro aware of the criminal actions of this "liaison" organization?  They have an obligation to be aware and it would seem impossible for them not to be.  Since the District regularly takes funding from the WAC, have District officials ever asked to see the organizations tax returns or verified the WAC's tax-exempt status.  Either District officials were negligent and never asked to review any tax related documentation, or, the District intentionally chose not to ask because they didn't want to "rock the boat" and risk losing the flow of illicit funding provided by the WAC.  Are Grieco, Guiney and Pirro culpable in this action?  It is difficult to believe that they aren't.  Have Grieco, Guiney and Pirro personally benefitted from the WAC's criminal behavior?  Lets wait and let the IRS investigation determine that answer.

It is no secret that there have been numerous complaints filed with the School District against WAC officials by families of children involved in the WAC programs.  However, those complaints have, for some unexplained reason, consistently been ignored by District officials.  The complaints ranged from perceived mistreatment and abuse of some of the young athletes by WAC coaches (in violation of the Dignity Act), to families being bullied, or strong-armed into making "donations" to the WAC, at the threat that if they didn't, their children could suffer consequences - e.g., loss of playing time, not making a team, etc.  The bullying tactics and unfair treatment that have been employed by WAC coaches against some students athletes, have resulted in a large number of students leaving the Mount Pleasant School System and enrolling in schools outside the District.

The criminal activity (tax evasion) exhibited by the WAC should come as no surprise to those who have complained about this group's conduct in the past, albeit to no avail.  How could this group pose as a legal, tax-exempt organization for all of these years, when all involved knew that tax returns had not been filed?  It is illogical to believe, that the School District was unaware, or, had no involvement in this activity.  Many parents have indicated that they believed that the WAC has been protected by School Board President James Grieco, Superintendent Susan Guiney and Athletic Director Donna Pirro, against any charges or complaints.  It would now seem after this revelation about the WAC's tax problems, that those parents were correct in their assumption.  There is no way that the WAC could have ignored its tax obligation, unless the three District officials were complicit and provided cover for the organization.  Will Grieco, Guiney and Pirro continue to protect the WAC, now that the truth is out?  No matter, all three will have to answer to IRS investigators, and the facts will eventually be made public.

Besides the bogus "tax-exempt" assertion made by the WAC, there are additional inconsistencies in other claims made by the organization - such as the statement that the WAC was founded in 2004.  The New York State Department of State website, under the Division of Corporations database, indicates that the "Westlake Athletic Booster Club, Inc." was actually incorporated/founded on December 5, 2001.  How could WAC officials be unaware of the official date of the organizations founding?  It seems that WAC officials can't seem to get any of their facts straight, or, maybe they don't want to.  Can the public believe anything that these individuals say?  A better question might be - should the public believe anything that these individuals say?

ALL individuals involved in this conspiracy must be held accountable.  Remember, these are the same individuals who wanted you to vote for "their" Bond proposal, so that they could spend more of your hard earned tax dollars, obviously without any oversight.  Thank goodness that the Bond proposal (scam) was DEFEATED.

All officers of the Westlake Athletic Booster Club, Inc. should be immediately removed and law enforcement should be informed of their actions (NOTE:  Truthful One has been informed that law enforcement agencies have already been made aware of this situation.  It is also understood that a formal complaint has been filed with IRS, asking for a full investigation of this issue.).  Does any parent want unsavory, corrupt individuals like these having contact with your children?  Parents must demand that  ALL of the WAC Officers be removed immediately for the good of their children.

For those who doubt the accuracy of any of the tax related information, you can fact check by accessing the IRS website and referencing the charitable organizations link.  Then enter the WAC's  Employer Identification Number (EIN) 75-3027314, and the information will be there for all to see. 

If you or your child has been victimized by any of the officers of this corrupt organization, you are invited and encouraged to contact the Blog and tell us your story.  Your identity will be kept confidential and, if you choose to have your story posted (after verification), you will be listed as Anonymous.  We understand your frustration in getting no satisfaction after registering your complaints with School District Officials.  We at the Blog will provide you with a forum where you can present your complaint and expose those who have violated the public trust.