MNDARE Response to KSTP Story

A couple of weeks ago KSTP aired, on their 10 p.m. Sunday Eyewitness news, a segment on Twin City Events/Quantum. In this section they showed an undercover investigation into the D.A.R.E. Child Safe Booths. This investigation turned up the following problems:

· The salesperson misstated the percentages. One person stated that 40% was going to D.A.R.E. and another one stated that 20% of the proceeds were going to D.A.R.E.

· One of the booths charged a sales tax of 10% and another one did not.

· On salesperson stated that 2.7 million went to Minnesota D.A.R.E. in the last year.

· Finally, one employee was interviewed behind a screen. He stated that he took donated toys out of the collection box, re-sold them, and pocketed the cash.

Minnesota D.A.R.E. and D.A.R.E. America were contacted prior to the airing of this report. Unfortunately, a lot of the information we provided was not aired. However, we did take this report very seriously and the Minnesota D.A.R.E., Inc. Executive Committee called a special meeting to discuss this program. John Carty flew in from Quantum to attend this meeting to discuss possible concerns and ideas for changes. These are some of the facts and Minnesota D.A.R.E., Inc.’s proposed changes.

Facts:

	The average age of the sales staff is 22 years of age. The position is commission based. They get 35% of the sales. There is a high turnover rate due to working long hours outside.
	The actual percentages are:

1. 5% of sales goes weekly to D.A.R.E. America

2. 13% from D.A.R.E. logo items sold is donated to D.A.R.E. America from Innovage (the parent company)

3. If Minnesota D.A.R.E. sets up a location, another 5% is supposed to go to Minnesota D.A.R.E., Inc.

4. All donated toys, workbooks, D.A.R.E. items, etc. go to Minnesota D.A.R.E., Inc

	The sales staff get confused on the difference between D.A.R.E. America and Minnesota D.A.R.E.
	KSTP also did not understand the percentages and dollar amount on donated items and presented it in a deceptive manner. D.A.R.E. America and I gave actual numbers.
	There is sales tax on all items except D.A.R.E. T-shirts. If the salesperson does not charge it, it comes out of their commission.
	The 2.7 million actually came from a check presentation made to D.A.R.E. early in the program. A copy of this check is on the Twin City Events wall. This apparently confused staff. D.A.R.E. America has actually received several million since the inception of the program. This funding has helped them develop the new supplemental lessons. D.A.R.E. America and I also tried to explain this to KSTP prior to airing.
	The employee interviewed behind the screen did not even work for Twin City Events. He worked for a sister company. He had never worked a D.A.R.E. booth but he claimed, on camera, that he stole toys out of the D.A.R.E. donations. He was immediately fired.