If any of you were watching CBS Evening News last night, you probably remember the story about the attorneys who kept Fen Phen settlement money from their clients

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, formed a non-profit to pay themselves -- and the Judge -- salaries for many years, and even purchased a professional, and well known, race horse. Unbelievable! You can read more about it yourself here: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/18/eveningnews/main3842859.shtml?source=RSSattr=HOME_3842859

This is one of the only examples in recent memory that involves all three sectors -- public, private, and non-profit. And, unfortunately, the non-profit sector was abused terribly so that a few individuals could pay themselves money that was not theirs.

What the news story did not mention was the outcome of the non-profit organization, and the harm it did to the non-profit sector as a whole. Scandals like these lead to increased scrutiny and stricter regulations for all non-profits. Here at The Center, we strongly believe that non-profits have incredible potential to bring about positive, powerful social changes. We work hard to help non-profits that are committed to excellence achieve and demonstrate that commitment, so they can distinguish themselves from scandals like this one and show the public that so many non-profits are focused on important and very respectable causes.