BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Whistleblowers from the Baltimore Children and Youth Fund (BCYF) nonprofit are alleging the nonprofit’s president wastes taxpayer dollars on “nefarious spending” and promotions for her close friends.
BCYF is facing increasing pressure to improve its transparency and spending of taxpayer dollars amid a series of Spotlight on Maryland reports over the past year that sparked an investigation of the nonprofit from the Baltimore City Inspector General, as well as a bill updating oversight of the fund from the Baltimore City Council. The nonprofit is guaranteed a portion of Baltimore City’s assessed property value annually, which was about $16 million this fiscal year.
Three former BCYF employees who spoke to Spotlight on Maryland requested anonymity due to fear of retribution. The whistleblowers shared concerns about the nonprofit’s handling of taxpayer dollars under the leadership of its president, Alysia Lee. They allege she spends freely on events, pushes out employees who express criticism, and rewards personal friends with generous salaries and consultant contracts.
A BCYF spokesman neither confirmed nor denied allegations of close friendships between Lee and her executive employees but said there is “absolutely no truth to allegations of preferential treatment.”
Lee is the highest paid employee at BCYF, with a salary of $219,259, according to a document obtained by Spotlight on Maryland in a public information request. The second highest paid employee...
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