YPJF Vindicated: Investigation Uncovers Victim Funds Diverted to Fraud-Linked Nonprofits
- null null
- Jan 12
- 3 min read
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
YPJF Vindicated: Investigation Uncovers Victim Funds Diverted to Fraud-Linked Nonprofits; Foundation Demands Political Commitment to GVI Model
LEWISTON, Maine (Jan. 12, 2026) —
The Youth Peace and Justice Foundation (YPJF), formerly the Uvalde Foundation for Kids, today declared full vindication following new reports confirming that national donations intended for Lewiston mass shooting victims were diverted to organizations now facing federal and state fraud investigations.
The foundation is doubling down on its demand for a full, independent investigation into the entire chain of custody for these funds—including the Maine Community Foundation (MCF), the organizers of the "Lewiston Strong" fund, the national advocacy group VictimsFirst, and the Maine Attorney General’s office. For two years, these entities dismissed the YPJF’s early warnings as "bureaucratic overreach" or "conspiracy."
Recent records confirm that a portion of the nearly $19 million raised for community relief was funneled into a "Broad Recovery" fund, where roughly $1.9 million was distributed to 29 different nonprofits rather than the families of the deceased and the injured. Among the recipients was Gateway Community Services Maine, which received significant grants while simultaneously becoming the subject of a $1 million MaineCare fraud investigation.
In late December 2025, federal agents from Homeland Security raided Gateway’s offices in Lewiston, and the state has since suspended all payments to the provider.
Nonprofit Asks Attorney General To Review Lewiston Donations: (July 2025)
Uvalde Group Formed After Uvalde Shooting Says Donations Are Aniss In Maine: (Oct 2024)
"For two years, we were the lone voice warning that donor intent was being violated," said Daniel Chapin, founder of the Youth Peace and Justice Foundation. "Local media in Maine claimed they 'debunked' our investigation, and the Attorney General’s office told the public there was no wrongdoing. Today, the truth is surfacing: money meant for grieving families went to organizations now accused of industrial-scale fraud. We are directly challenging VictimsFirst, who backed this distribution system and claimed 100% of funds were reaching those in need."
The YPJF is shifting its focus from financial accounting to systemic prevention. The foundation is calling on Maine leadership to provide a firm political commitment to implement the Group Violence Intervention (GVI) model.
"We don't need more nebulous 'recovery grants' that serve as slush funds for unvetted nonprofits," Chapin stated. "We demand the political will to implement the GVI model—a proven strategy requiring cooperation between law enforcement, social services, and community moral voices. We need commitment to a structure that works, not a blank check for organizations that exploit tragedy."
FACT SHEET: Media Reversal & Validated Claims
As of January 12, 2026, The Youth Peace and Justice Foundation (YPJF) provides the following timeline of how Maine media and state officials initially dismissed foundation concerns, only to have those concerns validated by recent criminal and civil developments.
* Initial Media Dismissal (2024–Early 2025):
Outlets including the Lewiston Sun Journal and WMTW published reports suggesting that the fund distribution "stood up to scrutiny." These reports largely relied on statements from the Maine Community Foundation (MCF) and the Attorney General, who claimed the YPJF's independent review was unnecessary and its findings were "unfounded."
* The "Debunking" Narrative:
Throughout 2024, local media gave a platform to state officials who labeled YPJF’s calls for transparency as "conspiratorial." Critics dismissed the foundation’s questioning of why $1.9 million was diverted to nonprofits like Gateway Community Services while families remained financially unstable.
* The Fraud Reversal (Late 2025):
By December 2025, the narrative shifted abruptly. Outlets like The Maine Wire and Maine Public began reporting on the $1 million MaineCare fraud investigation into Gateway Community Services. Media that once "debunked" the YPJF’s calls for vetting were forced to report on Homeland Security raids at the very nonprofit locations that received diverted victim funds.
* Victim Betrayal:
Media are now reporting that over 100 survivors and family members have filed federal lawsuits, many expressing that they felt "misled" by the "100% to victims" marketing used by MCF and VictimsFirst, noting that the "Broad Recovery" stream was used to fund initiatives—including theater groups and food delivery—unrelated to the direct needs of the wounded and the families of the 18 deceased.
* The "Lewiston Strong" Gap:
After a year of ignoring whistleblower tips regarding Rogue Life Maine, journalists are finally examining the massive discrepancy between the estimated $550,000 in sales and the $213,000 donated to MCF—a gap first identified and publicized by the YPJF.
About the Youth Peace and Justice Foundation
The Youth Peace and Justice Foundation (YPJF) is a national non-profit organization (Charity ID 88-3268749) dedicated to accountability in the wake of mass violence. It works to ensure relief funds are managed with absolute transparency.
Youth Peace and Justice Foundation
Uvalde Foundation For Kids
Charity ID 88-3268749
254 499 8027 (Main)
