This Saturday from 7 p.m. to midnight, the largest crawfish boil in Arkansas (complete with corn, potatoes and fixins) will take place at North Little Rock’s Dickey Stephens ballpark. The fifth annual volunteer-organized Craws for a Cause will raise money to support premature babies, with the March of Dimes being the largest beneficiary. Last year, organizers say the event raised $8,700 for the Baptist Heath Foundation’s NICU and nearly $10,000 for other organizations that help premature babies and their families. But this year’s event has been shrouded in controversy. KATV reports that the charity (which is not an official 501-c) hasn’t accounted for $20,000 in funds.
Scotty Adams, the event organizer, addressed this report in his press release: In 2010, Craws for a Cause applied to be categorized as a 501-c3 non-profit organization, and only recently learned that one missing document prevented the completion of this status. The organization has since supplemented the paperwork and is working to remedy the issue. Craws for a Cause has addressed all tax issues resulting from this omission…All of the funds raised by Craws for a Cause go directly toward the cost of putting on the event and to the charitable organizations it supports. The event is organized by volunteers who do not personally profit from the event… An itemized list of income and expenses for the 2011 event is here.