Feed the Children Charity Fires Founder
The board of directors of the charity made popular through its TV ad campaigns featuring hungry children fired its founder Friday.
In a statement, the board said the termination of Larry Jones as president was effective immediately. Board spokesman Tony Sellars, however, declined to give further comments on the action, citing pending litigation.
The 30-year-old Christian non-profit has of late been facing a power struggle between Jones and the charity's board of directors.
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Last December, Jones removed several directors from the board, according to The Oklahoman. Among those whom he fired was his daughter, Larri Sue Jones, who was part of the team of directors and executives against Jones. He also recently admitted to installing microphones in the offices of three directors in April before they were to resume their positions at the Oklahoma City-based charity on orders of a judge.
According to Jones' lawyer, the microphones were only to be used to record conversations between Jones and the directors because Jones had felt the directors misrepresented him. His attorney said the motive of the plan was self-defense.
The company that installed the devices said they never got the equipment to record any conversations.
The Feed the Children founder said he believes the directors fired him because he got the judge this week to temporarily block them from using the charity's money to pay for legal fees. The Christian relief organization reportedly takes in more than $1 billion a year in donations.
"There's going to be thousands of children go[ing] hungry this Christmas because of what they did," Jones, who is the face of the charity in the commercials, told The Oklahoman. "I thought they had enough foresight to see that this is by far the best time of the year to raise money…This makes absolutely no sense – none at all."
Jones said he plans to file a lawsuit regarding his termination next week in an effort to regain his position.
