"The comprehensive internal financial review being conducted by specialists associated with the independent accounting firm of PricewaterhouseCoopers continues. To date, the auditors have discovered that the Society apparently has been further victimized by the professional criminal activities of a former employee.

"In addition to the attempted theft of $6.9 million ­ which federal law enforcement authorities have recovered ­ approximately $600,000 in additional Society funds may have been stolen through a series of criminal activities that include:

• creating and making payments to fictitious vendors and creating false purchase orders;
• using employee names to falsely secure and use credit and purchasing cards;
• falsifying general financial records; and
• making invalid bank transfers and debit transactions.

"The Ohio Division of the American Cancer Society and PricewaterhouseCoopers continue to work closely with the authorities and will do so until all of the losses have been recovered and those responsible have been prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Any losses not recovered through criminal proceedings will be covered by the Society's comprehensive insurance coverage. None of the leading cancer research, prevention, detection or education programs provided by the Society through the generosity of Ohioans will be impacted in any way by these recent unfortunate events.

"In addition, the Ohio Division of the American Cancer Society has already taken aggressive steps to enhance its personnel processes and financial controls, which include:

• expanding background checks of new hires;
• conducting retroactive background checks of existing key staff; and
• enhancing existing financial safeguards and oversight of accounting procedures.

"The Ohio Division professional staff and its volunteer Board of Trustees are working with PricewaterhouseCoopers to determine which additional administrative systems need to be enhanced or corrected and will provide a final report to the community upon completion of the investigation.

"In the interim, the Ohio Division of the American Cancer Society continues its efforts on behalf of all Ohioans in the fight against cancer ­ our nation's number one health concern. The Society is grateful for the work of law enforcement and for the continued support of thousands of friends. If however, through these events, any members of the community have suffered a loss of confidence in the Ohio Division, we deeply regret that fact and pledge to do whatever it takes to regain and retain the public trust so that our mission of saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer can continue.

Feel free to write to the American Cancer Society, Attn: Volunteer and Staff Leadership, 5555 Frantz Road, Dublin, Ohio 43017 or Contact Us online right now. Your thoughts and comments are welcome and desired.