Clothes collection boxes in the USA
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HOT MONEY
U’SAgain is not a charity, 501(c)3, or community group, but a commercial company, owned by a Jersey-registered, Belize-based offshore property company, Fairbank, Cooper and Lyle Ltd. This company is central to the Teachers Group’s financial network.
Fairbank, Cooper and Lyle is a company controlled by the Tvind Teachers Group and its main business is landholdings, fruit farms and commercial plantations in central America. It is a majority shareholder of U’SAgain and probably also owns US-registered companies U’SAgain 2000, U’SAgain 3000 and TS Recycling.
Alleged ‘hot money’ transactions involving this company were investigated by Danish police and described in the Danish police report outlining the fraud case against the Teachers Group in 2003-6.
WHO RUNS U’SAGAIN?
The joint CEOs are Janice Bostic (far left) and Mattias Wallander (left). Both are members of the Teachers Group.
We know that Janice Bostic is personally involved, together with several other Teachers Group members, in a big network of US-registered companies. Many of these US-registered companies are concerned with property.
Mattias Wallander, a Swedish-born Chicagoan, recently told Seattle Kiro 7 TV he was a member of the Teachers Group, but said it has “nothing to do with criminal allegations in Denmark”. He described the Teachers Group as a community of humanitarian-minded people, adding: “That doesn’t have bearing on U’SAgain, which is my business.”
TOP US MEDIA REPORTS
19th February 2010
WGAM-TV, Illinois – U’SAgain red donation boxes meet resistance
US broadcaster covering Tri-State parts of Illimois, Missouri and Indiana reports. The City of Quincy almost immediately banned the red collection boxes due to a city ordinance violation.
26th November 2009
Seattle: Mayor calls for removal of for-profit donation bins
Follow through to TV investigation of U’SAgain by KIRO 7 Eyewitness News Investigative Reporter Chris Halsne. Action by local mayor and Attorney General.
17th November 2009
‘Millions In Clothing Donations Diverted From Charity’ – US TV investigates U’SAgain
An investigation by Kiro 7 TV, Seattle, into Teachers Group clothes collector U’SAgain concludes the public is being deceived because U’SAgain is falsely masquerading as a charity. The Teachers Group-controlled enterprise has recently installed 600 clothing donation boxes in the Seattle area. Investigative reporter Chris Halsne writes: “Drop the clothes in a red U’SAgain bin and you’re essentially giving away cash to a multi-million dollar enterprise …. The company cashes in on peoples’ preconceived notions that all bins represent charity.”
The material includes a revealing video interview with U’SAgain CEO Mattias Wallander. Wallander admits he is in the Teachers Group, but claims no association with the Teachers Group members prosecuted for fraud in Denmark. But Kiro TV says financial records ‘indicate otherwise’.
Extended interview with Mattias Wallander
15th July 2009
Do you know where your donation is going?
TriCounty News, Kimball, Minnesota, report by Jacqui DuBois
Sleepy Eye, Minnesota: Clothing box will support the Brown County DAV – local charity replaces controversial U’SAgain box (4th November 2009) Sleepy Eye Herald-Dispatch, MN
New Richmond, Wisconsin: Red boxes, red flag? Donation boxes placed by for-profit business. (30th October 2009) New Richmond News
“U’SAgain bins say, ‘We are a commercial company doing something good for our environment. Together we can reduce waste and conserve.’ By ‘commercial,’ they mean they are a for-profit company, and what they do with the clothes is sell them. The items are not going to charity as some may think.” Tri County News
Last revised: 11th March 2010
