US - CEO of Moose International accused of abuse
- CEO of Moose Intl accused of abuse
- Sex suit is filed vs. head of huge non-profit
- International group claims a million members
- And it “provides youth development programs”
- Abuse victims want the accused to be suspended
- SNAP will hand deliver letter at Moose lodge near Chicago
WHAT
At four news conferences, lawyers and clergy sex abuse victims will announce a new civil child sex abuse and cover up lawsuit just filed against the CEO of an international non-profit based in suburban Chicago.
Victims will also hand deliver a letter to the organization’s headquarters urging that the accused be suspended.
And they will beg others who saw, suspected, or suffered crimes by the accused to come forward, get help, call police, expose wrongdoing, protect kids and start healing.
WHEN
Thursday, December 13
WHERE AND TIME
At 1:00 p.m. at the SNAP office, 700 N Green St. (near the corner of Chicago and Halsted) in downtown Chicago
At 2:00 p.m. at the Moose Lodge in Aurora, IL at 83 N. Lincoln (corner of Lincoln and Spring st.)
Other events are in Columbus, OH and Charlotte, NC.
WHO
One of the victim's lawyers and representatives of a support group called SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests (SNAPnetwork.org)
WHY
In a new lawsuit, the chief executive officer of a non-profit fraternal organization called Moose International is accused of grooming and then sexually abusing a then 12-year-old boy beginning in 1980. (There are roughly 2,000 Moose lodges in the United States, Canada, Bermuda and Great Britain, with a total membership of nearly one million.)
According to the alleged victim, Jason Peck of Fort Mill SC, William B. Airey used his positions within the Loyal Order of Moose in order to get close to him and molest him. The alleged crimes happened in the Columbus OH area and in New Orleans, LA on a trip.
According to the lawsuit, Moose International investigated Airey for child abuse in 1996 and again in 2007, but the results of their investigations are unclear and Airey was never disciplined. At the time of the abuse, Airey was a volunteer within Moose International. He became an employee of the organization in 1983 and has headed it since March 2006.
At 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, SNAP members will hand deliver a letter to Moose HQ in Aurora IL urging the organization's board to suspend the alleged predator from his current position.
SNAP leaders are praising the victim for coming forward.
“Jason deserves applause for coming forward and bringing his abuse to light,” said David Clohessy, SNAP Director. “It’s especially egregious when powerful men in institutions that purport to help kids actually hurt kids.”
The lawsuit, which was filed in the Franklin County Civil Court of Ohio, seeks unspecified damages. It charges Airey with sexual assault and battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
The suit was filed Thursday morning in Franklin County Common Pleas Court in Columbus OH. A filed, stamped copy of it will be posted at SNAPnetwork.org
The victim says he was ‘groomed’ and spent time with Airey here: http://www.ohiomoose.com/lodgeinfo.asp?LodgeNumber=1245
Similar news conferences are being held today in Columbus (1:00 p.m.) and Charlotte NC (12:15 p.m.), where the victim lives. He is now in his 40s and is a doctor.
Moose International owns and operates Mooseheart Child City & School (255 W James J Davis Drive, Mooseheart, IL 60539), a residential facility providing education and home care for youths in need. It also provides sports activities and after school programs while supporting teens and children in need.
The victim is represented by Mason OH attorney Konrad Kircher (513-229-7996, [email protected]), Charlotte NC attorney Seth Langson (704-377-1504, [email protected]), Durham NC attorney Leto Copeley (919-240-4054, [email protected]) and Chicago IL attorney Marc Pearlman (312-261-4550, [email protected]).
CONTACT
Barbara Blaine 312 399 4747, [email protected], David Clohessy 314 566 9790, [email protected], Barbara Dorris 314 503 0003, [email protected]
Winter Appeal 2023
To our friends,
2023 has been a long year with many ups and downs for us all. As we close out the year, we at SNAP hope that you are feeling like you are on your way to being healthy, fulfilled, and happy. This past year has brought both successes and challenges. Thanks to the support you have shown in the past, we’ve been able to celebrate the good days and weather the stormy ones. Now, we are once again asking for your support as we work to support survivors new and old as we ‘Move SNAP Forward.’
At SNAP we are proud to have hosted a very well-attended conference in August 2023. This event allowed us to gather friends, survivors, advocates, and allies for a weekend of camaraderie and connection. We were so happy to be able to welcome many first-time attendees to gather in person and are already looking forward to the next conference.
To strengthen our movement for justice, healing, and prevention, SNAP will be expanding our peer support and providing more volunteer opportunities in the coming year. Through this great work, we are ensuring survivor voices are represented as we work for significant change that will benefit children and survivors.
Right now, survivors worldwide are getting the help they need from SNAP, and more and more reach out to us daily, but we need your help to keep those programs going and get our volunteers the training they need to thrive.
Your tax-deductible gift to SNAP can help offset the cost of our important mission. If you are not in a position to contribute, you can still support us by sharing this letter with those who can. As we continue to fight for survivors across the globe, your donation or sharing the great work SNAP does will help us continue our work to protect the vulnerable, heal the wounded, and prevent abuse.
Your donation ensures SNAP will be there for those who need us more than ever!
Warmly,
Michael W. McDonnell, C.P.S.
Interim Executive Director