by Tammy Taylor
Staff Writer
Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist presented a $40,000 check to the I.M. Sulzbacher Center for the Homeless Tuesday as part of a lawsuit settlement.
“I am pleased that we can provide much-needed funding to such a worthy organization,” said Crist. “These funds will help provide food to those who find themselves in a difficult situation.”
The money comes from a settlement the Florida Attorney General’s Office and 20 other states reached to resolve price-fixing allegations against three European and three Japanese companies that conspired to set vitamin prices during the 1990s. Florida received $16.5 million of the $255 million settlement.
“What’s nice about this donation is that it will be used to feed people and it is not coming out of taxpayers dollars,” said Sherry Burns, executive director of the center.
The money will be used to fund existing programs for the homeless.
“It’s good to see someone who did something very bad help turn this into something very good,” said Crist. “This money will add to the good help they get with local charities.”