Complaint Review: Derek's Wish

 So I’ve known about this website for awhile and people’s comments about my mom always irked me. Obviously some of you don’t know all the facts. Stating Derek was her youngest would be incorrect, If you met her, talked to her for a second you would know she has 5 kids not 4. Cyndie French always did what she thought was right. My mom always had a plan to help other family’s like ours out. She would always tell us so whoever finds joy at kicking at a mom who was and is in pain, is a very sad person. I have so much more I could say to some of you but I’d rather not waste my time. At least my comment will not be up there for people to read and get a better understanding of the story. Please think about how your words not only effect her but her family.

I am so happy that someone finally reported what I sensed was really going on with Cyndi Frenchs "fundraisers" and luring men for money/cars,etc. She has a long history of doing this before the sad death and exploitation of her son of cancer. Anyone who knew her in the past also knew it was a matter of time before the truth would come out as to her true intentions. She had no desire to help other families. The money has been used for cars,rent,plastic surgery,etc. I hope that she gets prosecuted for what she has done in the name of her youngest.

I highly doubt that Cyndie personally told you that she took money.  As far as I know, this money is still sitting in the paypal account and has been turned over to the IRS or is in process of being turned over to the IRS.  Cyndie, shut her own NonProfit down because she was in over her head. 

And if the dating has nothing to do with it, why throw in your opinion and not facts.  I have met many of the men she has dated on these websites, some claim to have money, some don't, either way, all were controlling wanted her as arm candy and full of drama.  Some times, she gave them money she could not even afford to give.  So again, lets stick to facts not opinions that have no basis.

And yes we all have baggage and all make mistakes.  However, you have no proof or actual information that she broke the law, so lets not make accusations that are not true!  Remember we live in the USA and are innocent until proven guilty!  She has not been charged with anything and is in process with the IRS to clean up all this mess.

I really wish everyone would leave her alone, no one really knows what is going on, everyone is just giving there opinion and making up information.  The facts are what they are, she didn't file the proper paperwork with the IRS, she shut down her website and Nonprofit and is working with the IRS to straighten out the mess.  She still has the money sitting in the PAYPAL account and is turning it all over to the IRS.

The rest is all speculation and really none of your business unless you donated, in that case, you should contact the IRS.  Because until June 2012 you still have a write off, if you donated after that date, then you may have a problem.

Stop JUDGING and MAKING up information!  This is called BULLYING and is ABUSIVE.  I would not be surprised if the original post had something to do with a previous boyfriend of hers that is angry and wanted to get revenge on her because he felt the relationship didn't go the way he wanted.  Which would totally prove my point about her always dating controlling abusive men!

I too have known Cyndie for several years. I am sorry that she lost her son (it was a very sad time for all of us) and I do think initially she was sincere with the idea of Derek's Wish and perhaps did help some families; however, I do know for a fact that she did misappropriate money along the way. Through her own admissions she said many times she used the money from her fundraisers (i.e., car washes, laughs unlimited shows, etc.) to pay for her own living expenses and never deposited the money into the bank. I kept my distance from her, but I always knew the mishandling of the funds would catch up to her eventually. True, she may not be very good with money, but I don't think that gives anyone permission to misappropriate funds and property that were donated or collected for her nonprofit organization.    

I don't really understand what the dating situation has to do with the misappropriation of funds from her nonprofit, but yes, she routinely finds men online...generally financially comfortable and she takes advantage of the situation. I don't know if they were abusive or not because she is very good at telling you what she thinks you want to hear and can easily manipulate the details of a situation, so it is difficult to really know what is truthful and what isn't. I also agree she has baggage, but a lot of people have baggage and we all find a way to deal with it without breaking the law.

The bottom line is that even before her son got sick Cyndie was always had a money making scheme. The challenge I would like to put out there is that if she truly never "intentially" tried to scam anyone then she should come clean with what happened to all those donations she recieved and make it right with all those sympathic unsuspecting donors that made contributions to Derek's Wish. They believed they were supporting a worthy cause....It's the only right thing to do.

P.S - What did happen to those vehicles that were donated?

Yes Cyndie has not kept up with the filings with the IRS and yes she was collecting money for Derek's Wish.  However, I believe, what really happened here is Cyndie is someone who has no business sense and has no idea how to do any of the bookkeeping.  Her life has been a disaster since her son died and she has been dealing with depression.  These fund raisers were her way of keeping her son alive and trying to help other families, which she did.  She just did not do things in the correct way because she needed some guidance.  So in the end, this made her look bad, but her intentions were good and she did her best with the skills she had and the mental state she was in.

As to her dating men on a dating site.  She has always done this, she is not taking anyone for their money, she is just trying to find a nice guy to settle down with.  Just like many people her age, she has a lot of baggage and has never had a healthy relationship.  Surprise, she is damaged?  Who would of thought, you know with all she has been through.  She is not perfect has not claimed to be perefect.  Pretty much every guy she has ever met on these sites have been controlling and abusive to her.  So if anyone is claiming she ripped them off, that is their ego talking and nothing else.

I do not condone anything she has done, I just look at it with a sympathetic eye and nonjudgemental view.  We all have issues and need to understand that she was trying to do something good, just did not have the mental capacity nor the business skills to complete the task properly.

I am a good friend of hers and have been for many years.  I actually helped her start up this Non-Profit because I believed in her idea.  I had to back out after the first year, because of her poor business sense.  I did not want to be a part of that and knew eventually it would come back to haunt her.  She was also in a bad depression and I could see all she could do was focus on the fundraising and helping other families, which she did.  But had no clue on the paperwork and documentation she needed to be doing.