When was Madeleine's Fund set up and where has the money gone?
| | Madeleine's Fund timeline | | 03 May 2007 | At 10.00pm Madeleine is reported missing.
| | 06 May 2007 | First website set up The official Madeleine McCann website is launched under the domain name [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] This does not have a 'donate' button and is a simple awareness site.
The [color:b572=000000]Infohost site says: 'On the 6th of May Infohost received a call from Philomena McCann, Madeleine's aunt, asking if they would set up a website to help find her neice. The website was setup that day as [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
| | 11 May 2007 |
Lawyers fly in / 'No stone unturned' mentioned for first time
Portuguese newspapers report that this is the day lawyers flew into Portugal and met with the McCanns at the Ocean Club.
Extract:
English lawyers in Lagos
However, it is known to DN, that two British lawyers arrived Friday afternoon at The Ocean Club resort, and were staying there to advise the parents of Madeleine in this process. A situation that arises hours after the last presence of the parents with the PJ in Portimão, where they were interviewed for the second time, for long hours.
Although the PJ reiterate that the relatives and friends of Madeleine "do not fall under any suspicion," the presence of lawyers is nevertheless a curious fact, at a time when there is talk of a possible return to the United Kingdom by the couple. According to the PJ, there is no legal obligation to prevent the family and friends from leaving the country at this stage, since "nobody has been made an arguido".
[color:b572=000000]Diário de Notícias (Portuguese language)
Gerry McCann reads a short prepared statement to the waiting press on the road outside their holiday apartment. He specifically emphasises that they will 'leave no stone unturned' in the search for Madeleine. He also mentions how grateful they are with the offers of support they have received both from home and around the world.
It would appear from this statement that the name of the company had already been decided and that this was a form of public preparation for the launch of Madeleine's Fund. Video link [color:b572=000000]here.
| | 12 May 2007 |
[Information previously contained here has been removed whilst the accuracy/source is checked]
| | 13 May 2007 | McCann lawyers arrival officially acknowledged It emerges, for the first time officially, that London lawyers have flown to Portugal to assist the McCanns, and are setting up a special "fighting fund" to allow members of the public to make their own financial contribution to the search. McCann family members in the UK confirm that 2 leading UK lawyers from the International Family Law Group (IFLG), specialising in divorce settlements where the affected parties are from different countries, have been hired.
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The IFLG issue the following 'media release' on their website [color:b572=000000]Link here:
13 May 2007 Embargo: None
Media Release
Last week, Gerry and Kate McCann instructed The International Family Law Group, London specialist lawyers in child abduction and international family law, together with Michael Nicholls QC of 1 Hare Court, to help them in the search for Madeleine. They have been visiting the family in Portugal.
Gerry and Kate are very grateful for all the support and generous offers of help that they are receiving. Details of how contributions can be made to help get Madeleine back to the safety of her own family will be made available in the next couple of days.
| | 14 May 2007 |
McCanns lawyers approach the Charity Commission "We were first approached for our advice about the possibility of a fund to assist the parents' search on Monday 14 May," explained a spokeswoman for the Commission. "We held discussions with the family's lawyers and in the end they decided not to pursue that route." Gerry reveals help from two British lawyers at press conference Kate and Gerry answer questions from the media for the first time, on the road outside their holiday apartment. Gerry says he is now being helped by two British lawyers from the Family Law Group on how best to use money pledged to help find Madeleine and give assistance in Portuguese legal processes. He said: "We have felt a burden lifted from our shoulders. It is one less thing to think about. It has allowed us to concentrate more on our own physical and mental wellbeing. We do need to spend more time focusing on that and with our twins Sean and Amelie. We do wish to keep communicating with the media however as this is essential in the search for Maddy."
Public fund to aid Madeleine hunt [color:b572=000000]BBC News
Last Updated: Monday, 14 May 2007, 00:56 GMT 01:56 UK
A "fighting fund" to which members of the public can donate to help in the search for missing Madeleine McCann is being set up by her family's lawyers.
The legal team, which has flown out to Portugal, will reveal details of the fund within the next few days.
The lawyers will help with liaison and will not interfere with the inquiry, Madeleine's uncle John McCann has said.
Rewards of £2.5m have been offered to anyone with information leading to the four-year-old's safe return.
Madeleine, from Rothley, Leicestershire, disappeared from an apartment in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz on 3 May.
A spokesman for the International Family Law Group, the legal company helping the McCanns, said: "Gerry and Kate are very grateful for all the support and generous offers of help that they are receiving.
"Details of how contributions can be made to help get Madeleine back to the safety of her own family will be made available in the next couple of days."
| | 15 May 2007 | Madeleine's Fund incorporated Date of incorporation of 'Madeleine's Fund: Leaving No Stone Unturned Limited' with Companies House as a private, limited by guarantee, no share capital company. It is thought the original idea was to set the fund up as a charity but this was rejected, according to The Times, when it became clear that a charity cannot be operated for the sole benefit of one person. The Charity Commission later denied this. One of the things that distinguishes a limited company from a charity is that it does not have all the rules and regulations which govern the conduct of the fundraising and which controls the proportion of the charities funds that are spent on overheads, expenses and wages etc. It was also reported at the time that the Charity Commission was extremely disturbed at the way the Fund was being advertised as it gave people the impression that they were donating to a charity - not a private limited company. The reality is, however unpalatable, that Madeleine's Fund is a private limited company and can therefore spend the money donated in any way it so chooses. The memorandum of association is so wide that practically any expenditure could be approved by the board of directors.
| | 16 May 2007 | Madeleine's Fund and new website launched Madeleine's Fund is officially launched as a campaign to support her parents, find the missing youngster and bring her home.
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The following press release has been made on behalf of the McCann Family [color:b572=000000]Link here
Embargo: 15:30 Date: 16/5/07 Time: 15:30 Location: Walker Stadium, Leicester City Football Club, Filbert Way, Leicester LE2 7FL Contact names: Esther McVey, Adele Cropper Wed 16th May at 15:30 in Leicester at the Walker Stadium will be the press launch of: The Madeleine Fund - Leaving no stone unturned - [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] findmadeleine.com
Attending the press conference:
Close family members John McCann, Susan and Brian Healy
Launching the Madeleine Fund Martin Johnson CBE – Former England Rugby Union player and Captain
Lawyers representing he family The International Family Law Group, London
The McCann’s ‘Medical Family’ Dr Doug Skehan Clinical Director of Cardiology Respiratory services University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
Dr Tony Gershlick Consultant Cardiologist at Glenfield Hospital
Leicester City Chief Executive Tim Davies
Leicester City Chief Executive Tim Davies said:
"Everyone connected with this football club is hoping and praying for Madeleine’s safe and healthy return.
Madeleine has touched the hearts of so any people within the Leicestershire community as well as this country and beyond.
I have young children myself and I want Gerry and Kate, and the rest of Maddy’s family and friends to know that we are thinking of them every minute of every day and are fully supportive of the Madeleine Fund.
As a family-orientated football club we will do anything and everything we can to help ensure her safe return. "
-Ends-
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In conjunction, the website is relaunched under the new name [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] although this is not officially announced until the next day, 17 May 2007. According to the McCanns interview with Steve Boggan in the [color:b572=000000]Guardian, the domain name 'findmadeleine.com' was originally purchased by a stranger in France and then donated to the family.
| | 17 May 2007 | New website enables donations to be made online
The newly named website is officially announced, when visitors to the site are met by the following message:
'From this morning, Thursday 17 May 2007:
Members of the public will be able to make donations to 'Madeleine's Fund : Leaving No Stone Unturned Limited' over the counter in any branch of NatWest and The Royal Bank of Scotland'.
McCann family friend, Michael Wright, reads a prepared statement outside the couple's apartment. Video can be viewed below. The first three paragraphs give the impression that this is Michael Wright's own statement, with input from Gerry. But, from the fourth paragraph onwards, it clearly becomes a statement solely from Gerry. He says: "Gerry and Kate have asked me to give you an idea of the spread and scale of the campaign and the huge response to the Fund that was officially launched yesterday. Let me start by saying that Gerry and Kate have taken immense strength from the support and good wishes they are receiving from all over the world. They have been totally overwhelmed by offers from individuals, small companies and large multi-national corporations. Both of them are firmly fixed on the campaign, which is designed to raise Madeleine's profile right across Europe and ensure we bring her home safely. Their purpose is to turn hope into action. Whilst none of us are experts in campaigning, the situation we have found ourselves in has galvanised us into action and made us think creatively. We are leaving no stone unturned and we have a huge number of campaign partners who are helping us to do that from sporting celebrities to big business. Top of the list are the UK and Portuguese media, in particular, who have played a huge part in maintaining the profile of this case and the awareness of Madeleine. We need your continued support and now need to increase the coverage right across Europe. Our campaign has started with an expansive poster distribution across Europe and our partners include multi-nationals from the oil, banking, telecoms and retail sectors. Other multi-national companies have already started to include Madeleine's image on every outgoing e-mail. The response to yesterday's launch has been huge. The official website has received over 5 million hits today and the scale of response has brought some difficulties and they are being dealt with.
But this is just the start. Each day brings more offers of help and new ideas. We are open to anything that will bring Madeleine home. If anyone wants to offer practical help we can be reached at [color:b572=000000][You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]"
Guardian 17 May 2007 [color:b572=000000]Link (Note: Below is the original report - parts of which were later removed when it was updated)
"We have got one principal objective with this fund - we want Madeleine back," said her uncle, John McCann. He explained that the "Madeleine Fund" was the result of popular demand for a way of turning the groundswell of moral support into concrete action. Before its launch the fund had already raised £10,000 from medical colleagues of Gerry and Kate McCann and from a bucket of money filled up by visitors to Leicester's Glenfield Hospital, where Madeleine's father works. The money for the fund - which will gather donations through the website findmadeleine.com, via cheques and through donations at NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland branches - will be used to help search for Madeleine and to support the McCann family. The McCanns have said they are unable to leave Portugal for the forseeable future. The fund also seeks to have her abductors brought to justice. Any eventual excess from the fund would be dedicated to similar causes.
| | 18 May 2007 | Trademark application filed The campaign to find Madeleine McCann has applied for British and European trademarks to protect its fundraising, internet and print promotions. The applications, which were filed on May 18, seek to protect the name "Madeleine’s Fund: Leaving No Stone Unturned". The European application also seeks protection for the provision of social services and advice for people affected by missing children.
Source: The Times 14 August 2007 ([color:b572=000000]link)
| | 20 May 2007 | Fund refused charitable status and forced to pay tax
The fund will not benefit from gift aid, a form of tax relief that allows charities to claim from the government an additional 28p for every £1 they receive in donations. And tax will have to be paid on all interest accrued by the fund. Last night the Treasury refused to intervene, insisting it was the preserve of HM Revenue & Customs to decide tax liability. Source: The Times 20 May 2007 (article below)
Online store created on website
[color:b572=000000]Infohost site says: 'On the 20th of May it was decided that there should be some way for people to buy Look for Madeleine bands so Infohost created an online store putting all the money into the campaign fund.'
Madeleine appeal fund set up by Irish friend A dedicated bank account is set up in Ireland to allow people to assist through donations.
Funds raised through the Madeleine McCann Appeal account at the AIB bank are to be used to help fund the ongoing search for Madeline, and to help defray the costs of legal representation for her distraught parents. Source: Irish Independent 20 May 2007 (article below)
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| Setting up Madeleine's Fund, May 2007 | Setting up Madeleine's Fund [color:b572=000000]Bates Wells & Braithwaite
Rosamund McCarthy and Philip Kirkpatrick were involved with setting up Madeleine's Fund: Leaving No Stone Unturned within 48 hours and helping to present its launch live on BBC and Sky TV.
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Note: '48 hours' here refers to the length of time it took to set up Madeleine's Fund, not the length of time following Madeleine's reported disappearance.
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| Donations page: findmadeleine.com, 21 May 2007 |
| Madeleine's Fund - The Directors | There are currently six directors of the Fund, at 11 July 2011. They are:
- Peter Hubner; a retired consultant, friend of the McCanns, appointed 21 May 2007 - No. of Company appointments: 2 ; Resigned 19 September 2010.
- Brian Kennedy, a retired head teacher, Kate's Great Uncle, appointed 16 May 2007 - No. of Company appointments: 1;
- John McCann, a medical representative, Gerry's brother, appointed 16 May 2007, - No. of Company appointments: 1; Resigned 23 July 2010.
- Esther McVey, managing director of a public relations & communications company, Kate's schoolfriend, appointed 20 June 2007, No. of Company appointments: 1; (Resigned) - replaced by Edward Smethurst:
- Edward Smethurst, commercial law specialist with wealthy McCann supporter Brian Kennedy's company, appointment announced 09 January 2008
- Dr Doug Skehan, clinical director in cardiology at Glenfield Hospital, Gerry's boss, appointed 16 May 2007 - No. of Company appointments: 2; Resigned 24 August 2010.
- Philip Tomlinson, a retired solicitor and former coroner in Leicestershire, appointed 20 June 2007 - No. of Company appointments: 5; (Resigned) replaced by Jon Corner:
- Jon Corner, film producer and friend of the McCanns (wife is a longtime friend of Kate) and Godparent to the twins, Amelie and Sean, appointment announced 09 January 2008. Reportedly drafted in to help Clarence Mitchell look at offers they have received, such as making a docudrama or writing a book.
- Michael Linnett, a retired accountant, appointed 15 August 2007 - No. of Company appointments: 8
- Gerry McCann, father of Madeleine McCann, appointed 12 November 2008
- Kate McCann, mother of Madeleine McCann, appointed 12 November 2008
- Company Secretary: BWB Secretarial Limited, appointed: 15 May 2007 - No. of Company appointments: 26
- BWB (No.2) Limited was set up as a director on 15 May 2007 and resigned the next day, 16 May 2007
- FAQ about Madeleine's Fund
[color:b572=000000][You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
Esther McVey (Resigned)
Spokesperson for Find Madeleine Fund and former schoolfriend of Kate McCann
[color:b572=000000]Wikipedia entry for Esther McVey
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Brian Kennedy Kate's Uncle
[color:b572=000000][You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]
John McCann
Gerry's brother |
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Within a few weeks of Madeleine being reported missing, the McCanns set up a private limited company & asked the public to donate. 
