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AUDIT RECOUPS $83,000 IN GIFT CARDS FROM AGENCY; OVER $45,000 UNACCOUNTED FOR
Suffolk Comptroller Sawicki Calls County Use of Gift Card Program by Social Services and
Probation "Risky"
Hauppauge, New York – SuffolkCounty Comptroller Joseph Sawicki, Jr. released an audit of
the Family Service League’s “Gift Card” program recouping $83,000 in unused or unaccounted for
gift cards after he was notified by agency officials that an employee was stockpiling them in a desk
drawer. Nearly $38,000 of unused cards were located and another $45,000 remain unaccounted for. According to the audit, these gift cards (called “Flexible Funds”) were paid and approved for
distribution by the Departments of Social Services and Probation to provide for non-recurring needs
of children and their families and to “reward client attitude and behavior.” The gift cards are from
stores such as Home Depot, King Kullen, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Loews movie theaters, Subway
and McDonalds. “The Family Service League suspected a problem and immediately called appropriate County officials
to investigate this improper handling of their gift cards; they returned to Suffolk the entire $83,000 as
soon as the audit was completed,” according to Comptroller Sawicki. “Hopefully, the League’s fine
reputation will continue untarnished as this incident appears to be due to the actions of a single
employee.” The employee was terminated by the Agency and procedures are now in place to deter
potential misuse. “The County should re-evaluate these types of programs – though designed for good causes, they
are too risky in that giving away gift cards can be like ‘handing out cash’ if manipulated by the wrong
party. It simply is too tempting of a program that will always pose a potential for abuse.” stated
Comptroller Sawicki. Family Service League, Inc. located at 790 Park Avenue, Huntington, New York is a not-for-profit
corporation whose mission is to help individuals, children and families mobilize their strengths and
improve the quality of their lives at home, in the workplace and in the community. Centers are also
operated in Riverhead, Bay Shore, East Yaphank and HamptonBays. The Family Service League, Inc. has approximately $5.6 million in contracts with the County of
Suffolk annually.
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