Soon after my daughter Polly was kidnapped on October 1, 1993, she became known as America’s child. Donations to assist and facilitate the search poured in from the far corners of America. Violet and I founded the nonprofit Polly Klaas Foundation (PKF) to best administer funds and to protect ourselves from potential speculation that we would misappropriate money donated to help find Polly. We wanted to be proactive in ensuring that the focus remained on finding Polly.
Nonprofit organizations are governed by a Board of Directors. For the PKF we chose individuals who were prominent during the early days of the search. In fact, Violet and I left much of the organizing to those very people as we immersed ourselves in the search for our missing daughter. We named the organization after Polly because the donations, the focus and the hope was all about my daughter. Before the month of October, 1993 ended the Internal Revenue Service had conferred nonprofit status on the PKF.
Board responsibilities included fundraising, program development and financial management. Generally, Boards of Directors do not become involved in the day to day running of an organization. Those are tasks that are left to the nonprofit’s President, Executive Director, and staff.
Upon learning of Polly’s tragic death on Dec. 4, it was our intention to lobby for laws that would protect children, use the remaining $283,000 to help find other missing children, and continue fundraising, but the PKF Board made it difficult to accomplish these objectives. They seemed more concerned about protecting (their) assets and enjoying the status of sitting on the Board of a high profile nonprofit organization. This resulted in deep and ingrained tension between Violet, me and the Board. Violet, who was not a member of the Board, was not allowed to attend meetings. At these meetings I often found myself with very few allies.
Janet Reno’s visit to Petaluma in July, 1994 was a good example of my conflict with the Board. I had secured the United States Attorney General to speak at a town hall meeting to discuss crimes against children. As a result, the PKF Board accused me of grandstanding. They reasoned that if the Attorney General’s visit was a success I would receive the glory, but if it failed they would take the blame. After Ms. Reno’s visit, which went very well, drew massive media attention, and filled the hall at the Petaluma Community Center, relations between the Board and me became even more strained.
President Clinton signing the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994
Within a year of my daughter’s kidnapping several events foreshadowed our rocky nonprofit experience and lonely crusade. On September 13, 1994, I stood on the podium with President Clinton at the White House when he signed The Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. The President gave me the first pen that he used to sign the bill. The Crime Bill provided for 100,000 new cops, allocated $6.1-billion in prevention funds for at risk children, and nearly $10-billion for prison construction costs.
Within days of my invitation to join the president the PKF Board informed me that I was no longer allowed to pursue criminal justice legislation. They argued that a non-profit organization is prohibited from advocating for new laws. They knew that this was not accurate. What was happening was the PKF Board had created a mission limitation that did not include legislation. Violet and I believed that Polly’s legacy had to include powerful public policy positions that would protect other children from her tragedy.
Without hesitation and a sense of urgency a separate non-profit application to create what would become known as the KlaasKids Foundation had been submitted from which to lobby, advocate and promote legislation. The PKF Board said that I had created a conflict of interest by finding an avenue that would allow me to pursue goals that they forbade me from pursuing. This was their justification for expelling me from the nonprofit that bore my daughter’s name. Ironically, the current PKF website states that a primary objective is to effect legislation which, “Will ensure that children can be safe in their own homes and communities.”
Within one year and 20-days of my daughter’s death, on October 21, 1994, without my knowledge, the PKF Board secured a trademark for the name Polly Klaas. My daughter’s name now belonged to the Polly Klaas Foundation.
Within a month of trademarking my daughter’s name, while Violet and I were out of town, the PKF Board voted me off the board during a secret meeting. This was the first Board meeting that I did not attend since the inception of the organization. Over the telephone the Board President informed me that I was expelled from the nonprofit organization that bore my daughter’s name. I felt that I had lost my daughter yet again. Violet and I were no longer welcome at the Foundation that we had created and hoped would become Polly’s legacy. We had been betrayed.
When Violet and I were locked out of the PKF we had $2,000, a fledgling nonprofit that would become the KlaasKids Foundation and knives in our backs. We felt that we had lost our daughter yet again. With a sense of urgency we believed that there was no time to lose, because otherwise everyone would forget. We struggled. Violet worked a full time job; I volunteered my time to KlaasKids. We lived frugally, turning our home into an office. We worked 18-hour days writing, advocating, traveling and otherwise pursuing our window of opportunity. Fortunately, our voice and our passion were being heard on television, radio, in the op-ed pages of newspapers and at KlaasKids events throughout the country.
It was through KlaasKids that we built a solid reputation for action and accomplishment. Meanwhile the PKF struggled. With just a few months of operating expenses left in their account, PKF launched a high profile car donation program. For the next several years a confused public donated millions of dollars’ worth of vehicles in Polly’s name despite the fact that the PKF produced minimal results.
The sense of betrayal continues to this day. Today it was brought to my attention that there is an organization exploiting missing Morgan Hill cheerleader Sierra LaMar for profit. The families who suffer and are victimized by the loss of their children are victimized yet again by those who steal, exploit or profit off of personal tragedy. I have witnessed too many instances of family members pursuing a legacy in honor of their loved one only to have their organization hijacked.
Shame on them! People or groups who oust family members betray the memories of crime victims by heaping insult upon injury. Sometimes I can still feel the knife in my back, but I take solace in the knowledge that Polly was my child and that her legacy is my destiny. KlaasKids may not bare Polly’s name, but we have created her legacy and given meaning to her death. One of the lessons of betrayal is to remain strong and not allow it to tarnish our character.
is there any way to get that organization closed or exposed to the public so that their neighbors know what kind of people they really are
Mr. Klass,
Your sweet Polly’s legacy will forever be in America’s hearts and minds. She truly was, and is, America’s child, and she will NEVER be forgotten! What you do in her name, and with your website, will stand forever because of your integrity! God bless you, Violet, and your organization as you run the race to bring every abducted child home!
Best regards,
Chief Petty Officer Kimberly Schoenberg
USS Ronald Reagan CVN 76
The situation existed at that movement is really a tragedy and we have to take necessary steps for avoiding these situations again. The job done by the Violet is really an outstanding one and definitely appreciable for their work. There are many charities providing their best works for the purpose of the people who are in requirement in the name of charity.
our children are alot safer now with you here . thanks
Go to http://estta.uspto.gov/filing-type.jsp Click on the second bullet that says “File a new proceeding,” and drop down to “Petition for Cancellation.” Fill in the registration number 1943811. After choosing “This is the correct registration, check “The registration is being used by, or with the permission of, the registrant so as to misrepresent the source of the goods or services on or in connection with which the mark is used.” The petition is free. This is for the cancellation of the stand-alone name, “Polly Klaas” and not for the name “Polly Klaas Foundation.” In the meantime, I phoned the US Patent and Trademark Office, and asked if one parent can give consent to use a deceased child’s name, depriving the other parent of his or her rights. The question is being escalated to one of the USPTO attorneys for a call back in 24-48 hours.
Marc,
I am always moved by your story. Do not ever, ever give up. You educate so many people every single day. I am looking forward to seeing you and Violet very soon.
Judy
Judy, we cherish your friendship and look forward to seeing you as well. Oh, and don’t worry, we have no intention of giving up on anything.
May not bare her name, but klasskids bares her mark
Hello Marc,
It’s good working with you, Bruce Seybert and Donna on Amber Alert International and the websites to prevent and recover missing children.
We look forward to the vision of CPPIDS coming alive with the three centers opening asap.
Thrasher Media Inc. does not have a board because of what happened to you. I have learned while watching other groups that even though it prevents us from becoming a 501C3, we can keep our options open and we can do what is best in our mission, by keeping it all in-house and out of the hands of others who could do what has been done with PKF.
I receive offers to invest or sit on our board too and I will not go this route. To achive the mission, I will self-fund it all and do what we can, as we can. Marc, You inspire me and others. Keep up the good work and remember, you’re never alone. R/ Michael.
You think in today’s society we would be more worried of a child’s welfare then that of our pockets and how much income we can make from a child being missing! How Cold and Disgusting the world is? I am so sorry for your loss and now this missing cheer leader..but there are so many other children too such as the baby in Maine that has not yet been found Alya Reynolds..I believe her name is either way she is still missing today and that happened last year. and still no answers..that baby will be gone 1 year on 12-2012 so sad..and yet we are only worried of MONEY??!!! Sick and wrong. I am happy you have worked on getting a new fund going and I hope that you will also look into these places using children’s names to make profit. I hope one day there is a way to get the gov’t to help stop these for profit places from using missing children names, is that not exploitation?? So wrong..Many prayers to you and your family..
Again with people trying to profit off of tragedy. This makes me so sad. I’m so sorry for what happened to your daughter and family. At PCF, we’re all about finding the missing and helping to lock up the criminals. This too should be criminal.
Dear Mr. Klaas,
This is beyond unbelievable to me. Polly paid a price, no one should ever have to pay. Your daughter should have been safe in her own home, but our justice system & the monster who took her, betrayed her, betrayed you & your family. Who, more than you, has earned the right to speak out, in Polly’s name, toward protecting other children, other families? Thank you for using your anger for POWERFUL good! Thank you for sharing with us, just how “the bottom dwellers” function. God bless you Sir!
Marc,
Unfortunately I too was one of the suckers who thought I was doing the right thing by donating a car to the PKF in 2001. I am sorry for your betrayal at the hands of some GREEDY Board Scum, and I am angered by an organization trying to profit from Sierra’s tragedy
Marc ~ I am astounded to hear this has happened to you. It is unthinkable and should never have happened. These people will pay for their greediness and hearts of stone! However, Polly’s name has been engraved on all of our hearts, and she will never be forgotten. I remember the night it happened and the grief I felt for you and Polly. You are to be commended for your stand for honoring Polly’s name by helping other children and parents. When I see your picture in the news helping to locate missing kids, I am so proud that you are not only able to do this but have the heart to want to help. Compassion flows from you and is very visible. I wish I could have done something for my daughter, but I commend you for your stand and pray your efforts will be rewarded. It seems that God gives us shoes to walk in, and you are definitely walking in the shoes He gave you. We are proud of you, Marc. God bless you and keep you. I know that Polly is proud of you too. What a great Dad and human being! Hugs!
Marc,
You and Violet have done an outstanding job!!!!
I am hornored to know you, work along side of you and all of those involved in Klaas Kids! I think of you as a friend and a wonderful person!!!