Chris Burke, founder of Tuesday's Children, with offices on Plandome Road, was fired by the board of directors in January after it was discovered he had misused the organization's funds, diverting approximately $311,000, some of it for his personal use, according to the organization's chairman of the board, Jonathan Barnet, and as reported in The New York Times. According to Barnet, currently interim president, when the financial improprieties were uncovered the board took immediate, decisive action. "We engaged the law firm of Shearman & Sterling and a well-respected forensic accountant to conduct a thorough independent investigation of our finances. We engaged Deloitte to review and provide advice on governance issues as well as our internal practices and procedures. We also arranged for, and have received, full restitution."

"The integrity of Tuesday's Children must be beyond reproach," Barnet continued, "in February, we therefore provided the office of New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer with the results of our investigation. We are cooperating fully."

Tuesday's Children took root in the turmoil and heartache following the attacks on the World Trade Center and was the brainchild of Chris Burke, whose personal loss included his brother, the father of four. His original vision was an organization committed to providing services and programs to the September 11 families for 18 years. Approaching its fifth birthday, Tuesday's Children offers a wide range of programs to the families of September 11: Mentoring program that pairs children with specially-trained adult role models; Career Paths, a program specifically designed for adolescents that helps teens prepare for college and a career; First Step, designed to engage young children and their parents in activities and events that foster healthy child development and was created in conjunction with NYU's Child Study Center; Next Step/Turning Point, designed to help parents and spouses focus on their own recovery.

Last year, Tuesday's Children provided programs and services to almost 5,000 individual family members in the tri-state, Washington, DC, and Boston areas.

The needs of families touched by the terrorist attacks are still present, Barnet said, and the organization is vitally committed to meeting those needs, as they exist now and as they develop over time. He added that although deeply upset by Burke's actions, one must remember that he too is another family member who postponed seeking help after the tragedy. He is now addressing his own personal problems, Barnet said, and has taken full responsibility for his actions.