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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 7, 2008)
NOVEMBER 7,2008 JUSt|OUt 7 northwest Former Nonprofit Director Under Suspicion The Unity Project board informed the Multnomah County District Attorney’s office of with Simmons as the lone Things signer on rhe account. around for have Geffen turned since When Unity Project of Oregon executive the claims that Simmons paid for meals, drinks, gas, Bailey-Gilliam says the then. She’s back to playing Sept. 11, personal items and even her rent from the Unity board has traced the alleged in rhe yard with her mutt, Project budget. Charges have not yet been filed. unauthorized spending as far Myra, and back to work part back as January. time doing medical billing Alisa director Simmons resigned board members say she left a fiscally devastated Simmons denies the accusations and says she organization. “It affects us dramatically. It’s hurt all the will fight all charges. She claims the organization According to the Oregon work for a friend to help board members that have been working extremely actually owes her back pay that she initially chose Revised Statute, aggravated make ends meet. ‘Tin pretty hard to keep this organization afloat, and it hurts not to pursue. theft, which is defined as the community. It breaks tnist. I think the orga “I’m owed more in back salary than they claim theft in excess of $10,000, is nization is a little bit devastated right now,” said I took,” Simmons told Just Out. “1 fought so hard a Class B felony, punishable board vice chairman Kevin Bailey-Gilliam. to bring in money to the organization that them by restitution, fines, proba accusing me of stealing does not make sense.” tion or prison. Simmons is being accused of embezzlement, forgery and theft of property from the organiza tion she led for one year. tired still," she says, “but I'm A concert is planned to benefit Kristy Geffen, who nearly lost her life to a fight with E. coli. and support to offset the astronomical cost of her Simmons estimates she raised $157,000 for Simmons has retained tlx* sen ices of an attorney. emergency; her medical bills, though partially Unity Project and met monthly with the board Tyson is working on a grant to hire an interim covered by insurance, totaled about $10,000. treasurer. “It’s complete bullshit. They had access executive director that specializes in rebuilding She and her partner, former Just Out Staff Writer to the books," she said. organizations in similar situations. Malka Geffen, have decided to Kith celebrate her in violation of the organization’s bylaws by using Unity Project’s debit card without the authoriza miraculous recovery and raise money to pay off Lesbian Duo Fight E. Coli with Benefit those bilLs by throwing a “Happy Kidneys" ben efit concert 7 p.m. Nov. 21 at Portland Ecotrust tion of both the board chairman and treasurer. He It only took Kristy Geffen a few hours after eat Conference Center, 721 N.W. Ninth Ave. The estimated debit charges at between $4,500 and ing E. coli tainted food to feel rhe stomach pains benefit features some of their favorite Portland $6,000 in personal expenses. that later developed into full renal failure—but it indie musical acts: Sarah Dougher, Little Beirut Board chairman Craig Tyson is pressing charg took 32 days in the hospital, half a million dollars and Malcolm Rollick. es against Simmons for allegedly forging his name of surgery and plasma from the other side of the on a check to her landlord. country to get her back on her feet. Of the musicians on the bill, Geffen says IXxigher means a bt to the couple. “Malka made me a CD of Bailey-Gilliam also accused Simmons of taking The Portland massage therapist nearly lost a Unity Project laptop and checkbook ledger with her life in the harrowing incident. “I was pretty Admission to the benefit is $15-$25 sliding her when she resigned and immediately moved to lucky,” she says by phone, her voice quiet and un scale, and more information is available at www. New York. In addition, he said bylaws were vio derpowered after being sapped of energy from the owlsoup.com/happykidneys . lated when she allegedly opened and maxed out a hospital stay. At the lowest point of her stay, she credit card for $13,000 in the organization’s name was given only 10 percent chance of survival. Sarah Dougher when we first started dating." 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