My Nonprofit Reviews
Irene Gorman
Review for Bnai Zion Foundation Inc, New York, NY, USA
My mother called to Larissa Akerman in the first week of March 2011, to inquire about their immigrant retraining program. Ms. Akerman told my mother that the program could be attended with the donation of $300 dollars, and that as long as the person was an immigrant (the maximum years from immigration to US was NO ISSUE) it was no problem.
When I called Ms. Akerman a week later to inquire about the program, she told me that the maximum number of years was 10 years from the date of immigration to the US, with a few exceptions. Then she told me that she could make that exception in essence if I gave $500 donation to the organization. When I pointed out to her that when she spoke to my mother, she told her the donation amount was $300. She denied that she ever told my mother anything like that, which is a complete lie. I wonder if she pockets the $200 difference. Very unethical, unscrupulous and, most probably, illegal.
Someone should investigate her and this organization.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
My personal experience with Larissa Akerman is terrible. She could have been honest and turned me down because I was beyond their term of immigration status. She didn't have to try and extort $300 or $500 donation from my mother and me. It's disgusting to do that, especially to me because I told her that I've been unemployed for 3 years. Absolutely the most disgusting experience I've encountered with another person in a long time!
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
I'd get the IRS scrutinize every penny this organization gets. I bet anything that there is some serious extortion and fraud going on behind closed doors.
Will you volunteer or donate to this organization?
No
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
A little
How did you learn about this organization?
They help out immigrants in the US and do work in the Middle East. That and Larissa Akerman is an unscrupulous money extortionist. She'll most likely deny that this conversation ever happened and that she did nothing wrong. I wish I had taped her conversation for proof. She is one horrible woman!
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2011
