‘Real Housewife’ Gretchen Rossi Fights
Claims She Set Up Fake Leukemia Charity

Rossi claims she had no idea that the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society did not carry out their end of the deal. “Real Housewife” Gretchen Rossi is hardly a stranger to drama, but the O.C.-based reality star ignited a firestorm recently when news broke that a charitable memorial fund she set up last year didn’t actually exist.

According to Rossi, she received verbal confirmation last year from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) that the Jeff Beitzel Fund, founded in memory of her late husband, would be established through their organization. But Rossi tells Tarts that she was unaware that the agreement was not carried out on their end.

“I was always under the impression that the fund was set up with them. After speaking with them now, I realized it was not their intention to not communicate the details of how restricting funds within the organization works. They are a large organization with a lot of moving parts,” Rossi explained exclusively to Pop Tarts. “I was told by a former employee last year that all money raised could be restricted into a fund we would call ‘The Jeff Beitzel Memorial Fund.’

Read full story at FOXNews.com

(Revised) On April 22 2009, Gretchen writes in her BRAVO blog,

“My campaigning started the weekend of April 4th. I was asked to participate in the Orange County Boat Show, autographing pictures, selling little sailor teddy bears for the kids, and selling wristbands that said “relentless” with all proceeds going back to the Jeff Beitzel fund and LLS. A portion of all ticket sales went back to LLS and the Jeff Beitzel Fund as well! It was a really fun event and I got to meet a lot of great and wonderfully giving individuals.”

The Jeff Beitzel fund and LLS. Not The Jeff Beitzel Memorial Fund within the LLS. Not LLS in memory of Jeff Beitzel. It says the Jeff Beitzel fund and LLS. That was a year ago, where did the proceeds and the portion of all ticket sales go? She continues,

“I will be ending my campaign on June 5th with a big Gala for all the hard work all the candidates have done throughout the last ten weeks! I look forward to continuing in the fight against cancer way past June 5th!
Be sure to visit my LLS website for more information on all these events and to donate! www.lls.org/ociegrossi or go to my website www.gretchenrossi.com.“

Oh yes, be sure to click on the link above and visit her LLS website…

Gen Art L.A. Fall Fashion show, March 2009

Interesting statement at about 1:37

3/09 Starting foundation
4/09 The Jeff Beitzel Fund and LLS
2/10 LLS and The Jeff Beitzel Foundation -she started
3/10 The Jeff Beitzel Memorial Fund within the LLS
3/10 The LLS in memory of Jeff Beitzel

3/10 Addresses ridiculous rumor  “…Someone stating that it doesn’t exist is ignorant, direspectful, and incorrect! People should stop spreading false & malicious rummors.”

*scratches head*

This statement has been confirmed by the LLS. Misunderstandings do occur, I get that. I don’t get how it took a whole year to realize there was an issue. Anyways, hopefully it has all been resolved and they can move forward working together.

What are your thoughts, if any on the following?
Will Gretchen will be setting up a fund or foundation as she has previously claimed?
What portion of the proceeds are going to be donated to LLS?
Do you think Gretchen misrepresented the fact that all the proceeds will go to this foundation or fund?
Do you think Gretchen has misrepresented the fact that she started a foundation or fund in Jeff’s name?

At first glance it appears to be an article. It has the headline, content and a generous size picture of Ms. Rossi, but is categorized under blog and there is no mention of an author.

Addressing Rumors Regarding
the Jeff Beitzel Memorial Fund

After speaking with LLS today they have responded apologizing for the miscommunication [sic] with this statement:

“In conversations that took place last year between Gretchen Rossi and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) there was a miscommunication [sic] concerning the establishment of a Jeff Beitzel Memorial Fund. A fund has not been set up by LLS and we apologize for any embarrassment this may have caused Miss Rossi. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will work with Miss Rossi to identify a researcher who will be named in Jeff Beitzel’s memory. The funds previously raised and any additional funds, such as those that may be forthcoming from the sale of Miss Rossi’s song on iTunes, will be used to help support the LLS mission. LLS appreciates the effort put forth by Miss Rossi.”

Not to nitpick, but who spoke to LLS and who from LLS responded with the statement? I guess it may be somewhat irrelevant in most cases, but under the circumstances it almost seems a little too vague? Anyways, I do hope all it has been resolved!
There is still no mention of The Jeff Beitzel Foundation, which I don’t think was a part, or within LLS…because she has stated on a few occasions, proceeds will go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and The Jeff Beitzel Foundation. I think a little explanation /clarification could go a long ways…

On a sappy side note: As a mother of a child who is now a cancer survivor, and a daughter of a cancer survivor, it’s because of the efforts of organizations like LLS, The American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen Cancer Foundation and many others that helped make that possible. They can always use our support.

*Click on preview to view actual size

“To date, LLS has not received proceeds from the sale of Gretchen Rossi’s song…” [4/1/10]

I have more information from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. It should be posted shortly, I hope! I am just waiting on a response…or a comment…or both!  Check back soon, all I can say for now is, wow…just wow!

Someone pointed out on Facebook yesterday that there appears to be some damage control going on at Ms. Gretchen Christine’s Website. Remember the little banner I posted a few weeks ago from her site? It looked like this,

and read: Proceeds of the debut single will go to Leukemia
and Lymphoma Society (LLS) & the Jeff Beitzel Foundation

Well, sometime between March 18th and yesterday (my guess is it was yesterday, this someone has a pretty keen eye and would have probably noticed otherwise) the banner changed. It now looks like this,

and reads: A portion of the proceeds of the debut single will go to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) in memory of Jeff Beitzel
Umm..you can’t do that!

It’s also said that her Facebook “fan” page is now gone, kaput, vanished! How will she network with her fans now? Could this be part of the damage control?

I stand by my first thought the day this single debuted,

“We all know Gretchen wants to break into the music industry, so is this just a brilliant (I use that word loosely) marketing plan? Jeff was not her fiance, but what better way to make a debut? Capitalize on a tragic situation, a man’s death and a relationship that didn’t exist?”

I really wish I would have been proven wrong. I really do.
Who takes donations to help save lives for a foundation that doesn’t exist? Who takes donations for 2.5 months and then decides only a portion of the proceeds will benefit the LLS. Aren’t people curious where their donation went and what it’s being used for? Are there any answers for that within your creative space?