The Snowballing Continues (NPR Edition)

By Gustavo Arellano Fri., Dec. 15 2006 at 8:12 PM

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Today on All Things Considered, reporter Howard Berkes picked up the Weekly's story on Michael Scott Kerr, the man behind the Snowball Express and who we've shown over the past week to be little more to be a schmuck: a negligent father, possessor of an child support arrest warrant in Arizona, and a resume-padding liar. Kerr, of course, denied it all--not to us, but to another blog, where he also dismissed us as "a local smut paper selling porno and the like."

Berkes verified everything we did, and discovered another doozy--turns out Kerr also lied about obtaining a degree from the University of Santa Barbara. When Berkes asked Kerr about it, Kerr put the blame on the Saywitz Company, his former employer. But a spokesperson for Saywitz told Berkes they merely posted what Kerr told them.

Kerr says he'll answer all questions after Monday, once the families of soldiers who gave their life for the War on Terror leave Orange County. Hopefully, Kerr will stop his snowballing as well.

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Gustavo Arellano hit the bull's eye! This "man" should never again get near the brave family members he tried to exploit. His heart-tugging pitch made one blogger's "skin crawl" UP with Snowball Express (the event) and DOWN with the Kerrs. And just who is this "Co-Founder" who is cashing "tax-deductible" checks into a "for profit" Time Share company? Is the woman behind the man the brains of the outfit? Certainly, he's not very smart. Remember folks, the reporters can not lie lest they get sued. Can the Kerrs afford a good defense lawyer? Thanks to Gustavo!
I am in litigation with the Founder and Co-0Founder of the M. Scott Kerr Foundation and the Snowball Express. The December 18th lead story at National Public Radio's web-site, npr.com, cuts through all the crap. It is entitled, "Charges Mount for Organizer of Snowball Express" by Howard Berkes and Amy Walters. Read it and all of you will know the absolute truth. Federal and State authorities will settle everyone's opinions about the Kerr's. Mind you, "behind every Great Man stands a..." People all over the world owe Gustavo Arellano a great deal of credit for telling us, "the Emperor has no clothes". A very thankful Respondent
Bob-- I find it hard to believe that a 5-star hotel would tell anyone, over the phone, who is paying for the room of one of their guests. Whatever Karen Zacharias' business arrangements may be, she does not forfeit her right to ask relevant questions about Michael Kerr and his so-called organization. I can't understand how attacking her illuminates this situation at all. If the reason you are so vindictive is because you are embarrassed that your enthusiastic endorsement of Mr. Kerr is now a public relations nightmare, get a grip. You have only Mr. Kerr to blame.
Nah--they're not the ones ignoring their kids at the expense of others.
I want to respond to Bob's comments. Michael Kerr is responsbile for his actions and has been attacking those of us who have asked valid questions. I suspect this email is from him or someone close to him. I find it hard to comprehend that Michael who is wanted on an arrest warrant in Arizona for not taking care of his own kids, wants to take care of the the kids of fallen soldiers. Why? Why is Michael Kerr not getting his own house in order? Michael according to the newspapers blames all of his issues on drug addiction and this is troubling considering all of the children involved. I am publicly asking Kerr to release the families from his "Irrevocable Photographic Release" that I believe has the potential to exploit these families. Karen is the daughter of a fallen soldier from Vietnam and has lived what these families have gone through. She was instrumental in making sure that groups such as TAPs were there to provide emotional support to the families. She flew in at her own expense and spent her time helping widows and chidren. MilitaryConnection.com is respected for our support of the military community. We have received emails that Kerr sent attacking us. Everyone knows why. I want to take this opportunity to thank the hundreds of Rotary volunteers and non-profits that stepped up to the plate to make the Snowball Express a success for the families in spite of Michael Kerr and his numerous issues. You are all awesome. I also want to take this opportunity to thank all of the members of armed services and their families for their service to our nation and for their many sacrifices. I commend you and wish you a joyous holiday season. Debbie Gregory, President MilitaryConnection.com
I did a little checking on my own by calling the Island Hhotel. Karen Zacharias is staying at the resort in a room donated for the Snowball Express! Hmm.... If we want to "follow the money", we might question the motives of Ms. Zacharias (who wants to sell more copies of her book), and by Ms. Gregory, who wants more exposure on her web site, where she receives advertising revenue from web-clicks. Is this a case of the pot calling the kettle black? Maybe there's another story here, as well! Mr. Arellano, would you check this out?
There's an important point in all this Kerr business that some people may be missing. The problem is not that Kerr may be a bad person, the problem is that projects like the Snowball Express are TYPICAL vehicles for unscrupulous individuals to run off with ill-gotten gains. Whenever there are victims and helpless people, certain folks will swoop in with some sort of flashy plan to help. Because the people being helped are so deserving, anyone scrutinizing the way money is being used is open to criticism. Scammers take advantage of this and can thereby operate relatively free from prying eyes. Clearly the event did happen and many families benefitted. We know this for a fact. What we don't know is whether Mike Kerr is a scam artist who managed to enrich himself along the way despite his claims to the contrary. I hope he is innocent of these accusations, but the way he has attacked anyone who questioned him (banning two of his key supporters, <a href="http://spearszacharias.bravejournal.com/archive/12/16/2006" rel="nofollow">Karen Spears Zacharias</a> and Debbie Gregory) doesn't look very promising.
Debby Bodkin: How astute your observation. But the most disturbing element of all this correspondence and press coverage is the letter quoted in the LA Times on Saturday, December 16th. The Times reporter referenced a letter written to Mike Kerr from his son, Sean. The teenager had to REMIND HIS OWN FATHER of his, and his younger sister's, birthday's. But here's what bothers me. On the one hand, he stated publicly that he "put $100,000 of his own money" into this venture. In the Saturday LA Times, he is quoted as saying he receives "no compensation". He's soliciting donations for a charity that does not exist (yet?), so who, what, where, and how is all the money being managed? And is any one with a brain actually considering Mr. Kerr as a person to "invest the donations in long-term investment vehicles so the children have it when they need it". Yeah, right. OC's Finest
Response to: "Who is supporting this phony?, and how is it that big newspapers like the OC Register and the LA Times could be so stoopid?" In exercise of free speech, press and opinion, it sounds like another OC Republican fiasco, with BIG bucks and corporate funding that in the normal and honest communities, would all have some type of financial, business, religious or personal conflict of interest... and the rewards for supporting such causes are reciprocated in ways very hard to determine by the normal course of business. Yes, Arellano, Moxley and the other OC Weekly journalism staff continue to respect the public's right to be informed... without political spins or self-serving agendas. Maybe some day.... the OC Register will take the role it plays in informing the public on sensitive and/or controversial matters.... but until then, don't hold your breath. Only the OC Weekly has the professionalism and ethical standards to do the right thing.... despite the wrath it faces by other journalists that don't have the guts to do the right thing - informing the public on matters that are politically sensitive and "taboo" in the Republican dominated OC.
To quote Cuba Gooding..."Show me the money", Mr. Kerr. Is this "Founder of the M.Scott Kerr Foundation" (?) living off these donations? Who is supporting this phony? Are these corporations going to continue to let this charlatain front for their companies?? And how is it that big newspapers like the Orange County Register and the LA Times could be so stoopid??? And his publicist, Dan Pittman? Is he in on this, too?? I think Gustavo Arellano is a saint and Good Samaritan. His reporting was flawless and truthful. He reminds me of the little boy in "The Emperor's New Cloths". All you other fools stood by and watched this schmuck literally "exploit widows and children". And what about the State of Arizona? This ain't over...ask the Saywitz Company.