Las Vegas Non-Profit Founder Gambles Away Donation Money
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Las Vegas non-profit New Leaf Community announced recently that it will dissolve its organization. The reason behind the choice was misconduct by one of its founders, Joseph Lankowski. Ironically, I wrote about this same man last month in an article highlighting mistreatment of the organization by Nevada officials. But now it turns out that might have been bad karma for Lankowski. Unfortunately, that karma landed on our city’s homeless population.
New Leaf Community began in July of 2020 and was completely donation-based. According to lvrj.com, the Las Vegas non-profit did get the proper 501(c)(3)non-profit status but conducted business anyway as a “small community mutual aid organization”. They used donations from the community to build tiny shelters for homeless citizens. The shelters were 100 square feet in size and provided each inhabitant a place to safely sleep and lock up their belongings during the day. That work will stop immediately and the organization has not said whether they will resume in the future.
As reported by lvrj.com, it was cofounder Robert Majors who discovered the misconduct by Lankowski. It’s reported that $36,000 went missing over the last 10 months, and that Lankowski lost most of it gambling at a casino. Lankowski, who suffers from a substance abuse disorder and other addictions, texted an apology for his behavior.
“Words can’t describe how much I regret taking funds that were so generously shared by such caring and hard working members of our community. These donations were made because they believed in the work that we were doing as a collective. I pray that my betrayal of these individuals’ goodwill will not dissuade people from continuing to help our city’s most vulnerable members in the future.” (lvrj.com)
Lankowski plans to repay the missing funds when he can, and has stated he’s in treatment for his substance abuse.
‘“I hope that some day people can forgive me for all of the hurt and pain that I have caused so many, but I understand that for some that day may never come,” Lankowski wrote. “Regardless, I do hope to make the fullest amends possible with all that I have harmed and will now be dedicating myself to this accountability process.”’ (lvrj.com)
New Leaf Community has not indicated whether or not they will file criminal charges.
–Wendy Rush, 96.3KKLZ Las Vegas
