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Cancer Fund: 2nd-Worst Charity

In the latest installment of their series on the nation's worst charities, the Tampa Bay Times and Center for Investigative Reporting describe the second-worst: the Cancer Fund and affiliated money-raising organizations operated by the extended family of James T. Reynolds Sr. of Tennessee.

Only about 1 cent of every dollar donated to the Reynolds families' charities ended up as cash assistance to cancer patients or their families, according to a chart prepared by the investigative team.

In the past three years, the reporters found, Cancer Fund and its affiliates took in $110 million but most of that -- $75 million -- went to the fund-raisers. Salaries for family members accounted for $8 million, 13 times more than went to those in need.

In an earlier installment, the worst charity on the list was identified as the Kids Wish Network in Tampa Bay.

Originally founded in December 2006 as an independent grassroots publication dedicated to coverage of health issues in Florida, Health News Florida was acquired by WUSF Public Media in September 2012.