Probe clears Hadassah execs of misuse of funds

Lay leaders Marcie Natan, Nancy Falchuk had been accused of buying support from members by upgrading their flights, extending trips to Israel.

By GIL STERN STERN SHEFLER
Hadassah presidents Marcie Natan and Nancy Falchuk 390 (photo credit: Hadassah / Facebook)
Hadassah presidents Marcie Natan and Nancy Falchuk 390
(photo credit: Hadassah / Facebook)
A probe has cleared two Hadassah leaders of misusing the women’s group’s funds, it announced on Tuesday.
Lawyer Daniel Kurtz headed an ad-hoc committee which exonerated Hadassah lay leaders Marcie Natan and Nancy Falchuk of allegations that they bought support from members by upgrading their flights to business class and extending trips to Israel.
“We are happy that Marcie Natan and Nancy Falchuk, along with Hadassah, can put this matter in the past and can move forward with the important mission of education, teaching, and healing that has been the core of Hadassah’s work,” the group said in a statement.
Last February Hadassah COO Larry Blum, who is on a leave of absence because of claims he misused his company credit card, said Falchuk and Natan misappropriated funds.
After investigating his claims, the committee found “no volunteers, including Marcie Natan and Nancy Falchuk, breached any fiduciary duties owed to Hadassah in connection with the allegations.”
Natan, who took over from Falchuk as Hadassah president last year, welcomed the committee’s findings.
“We are pleased with the conclusions of the committee and the Skadden firm and we are thankful to everyone for standing by us during this time,” Natan said. Kurtz, of Skadden Arps, supervised the committee’s investigation.
Hadassah will celebrate its centennial anniversary in Jerusalem next October.