Updates from Giving Pledge ... Girls on the Run ... Department of Investigation

A New York City initiative aims to crack down on fraud in social service agencies. The Department of Investigation will lead the effort to strengthen anti-fraud training for more than six dozen auditors through two-hour trainings at six city agencies, according to a May 30 press release. These are the Department for the Aging, Administration for Children’s Services, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Department of Social Services/Human Resources Administration, Department of Homeless Services and Department of Youth and Community Development. The first training took place on May 30 with more scheduled throughout the summer, according to the press release.

The training is in response to a 2016 investigation into a city-funded nonprofit in upper Manhattan. About $500,000 was taken by the organization’s executive and spouse, who were subsequently convicted and incarcerated. A subsequent report revealed that the Department for the Aging lacked sufficient auditing resources to detect the fraud.

Core Services Group has received a $29 million contract with the New York City Department of Social Services/ Human Resources Administration. The three-year contract will fund transitional residences in Brooklyn for homeless families at 124 Stuyvesant Avenue, 389 Chauncey Street, 429 Bainbridge Street, 853 Halsey Street and 1027 Putnam Avenue, according to the City Record.

Fourteen more philanthropists have joined the Giving Pledge. There are now a total of 183 signatories from 22 countries who are pledging to give away half of their wealth to charitable causes, according to a May 30 press release. The idea began eight years ago with Bill and Melinda Gates and Warren Buffett.

The latest people to pledge are:

• Aneel and Allison Bhusri (United States)
• David G. Booth (United States)
• Charles Butt (United States)
• Garrett Camp (Canada)
• Candy and Charlie Ergen (United States)
• Mario and Regina Gabelli (United States)
• Orion and Jackie Hindawi (United States)
• Reid Hoffman and Michelle Yee (United States)
• Badr Jafar and Razan Al Mubarak (United Arab Emirates
• Richard and Melanie Lundquist (United States)
• Rohini and Nandan Nilekani (India)
• Ernest and Evelyn Rady (United States)
• Dr. B.R. Shetty and Dr. C.R. Shetty (United Arab Emirates)
• Shamsheer and Shabeena Vayalil (United Arab Emirates and India)

The nonprofit Girls on the Run got some earned publicity from Fox 5. The local T.V. station featured their efforts to promote exercise and confidence among New York City girls, grades three to eight. There are about 45 chapters across the city. Watch the segment here.

A college fair on June 1 in New York City will bring together after-school programs and college admissions representatives, Youth Today reports. The Partnership for After School Education is behind the event, which started six years ago with 17 colleges and 50 community-based after-school providers. Within five years, that grew to 47 and 106 respectively. The event will be held at New York University, which is also a sponsor. Read more here.