Wand Fund
Donations for the Wand Children Benefit Fund should be sent in care of Talmer Bank and Trust, 101 7 1/2 St., Monroe.
MONROE - People making donations to benefit the victims of the Argyle fire that killed three young boys earlier this month need to make sure their contributions are going to the right place, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said Friday.
Van Hollen issued an advisory that "some individuals may be improperly raising funds and soliciting contributions" in the aftermath of the Sept. 7 house fire that seriously burned 27-year-old Sharon Wand and killed her three young sons, Allen, Jeffery and Joseph "Jo Jo" Wand. Her 2-year-old daughter, Jessica, survived.
Lessa Bobak, Sharon Wand's aunt, said in a statement that donations should only go to the Wand Children Benefit Fund, c/o Talmer Bank and Trust, 101 7 1/2 St., Monroe.
This fund "is not collecting money over the Internet, door-to-door or through other direct solicitations," she said. "Donation canisters specifically mentioning the Wand Children Benefit Fund were used briefly by the Fund, but have been discontinued to avoid confusion, and are no longer in use.
"At this point, we cannot guarantee that donations though any source other than the Wand Children Benefit Fund will go to meet the needs of Sharon and Jessica."
The Department of Justice does not have evidence that fraudulent fundraising has occurred, according to spokesman Steven Means.
But it does have concerns about unofficial fundraising for the fire victims, and the advisory is a precaution.
"We're aware of some activities that have gone on. That does not mean those people were trying to con someone," Means said.
Sharon Wand is being treated in the burn unit at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison.
"She's actually doing very well," Bobak said Friday afternoon, adding that for the first time since being hospitalized, Wand responded to her surroundings by blinking in response to a question.
Bobak said she couldn't provide an estimate for the number of people who've donated to the fund or the amount raised, but it's "doing well."
"The community has been very supportive," she said.
Wand's 2-year-old daughter is in foster care in Platteville, according to relatives.
Her husband Armin Wand III, 32, and his brother Jeremy Wand, 18, are charged with starting the house fire on Oak Street in Argyle with the intent of killing the family to collect on insurance. They face multiple counts of homicide in Lafayette County Circuit Court.
A memorial for Allen, Jeffery and Jo Jo Wand is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, at Argyle Park on North State Street (Wisconsin 78). In the case of bad weather, the memorial will be held in the Argyle High School gym down the road.
Dan Bohlman, a local pastor helping to organize the event, said it is not the boys' funeral but "a cross between remembering the kids and community healing."
Van Hollen issued an advisory that "some individuals may be improperly raising funds and soliciting contributions" in the aftermath of the Sept. 7 house fire that seriously burned 27-year-old Sharon Wand and killed her three young sons, Allen, Jeffery and Joseph "Jo Jo" Wand. Her 2-year-old daughter, Jessica, survived.
Lessa Bobak, Sharon Wand's aunt, said in a statement that donations should only go to the Wand Children Benefit Fund, c/o Talmer Bank and Trust, 101 7 1/2 St., Monroe.
This fund "is not collecting money over the Internet, door-to-door or through other direct solicitations," she said. "Donation canisters specifically mentioning the Wand Children Benefit Fund were used briefly by the Fund, but have been discontinued to avoid confusion, and are no longer in use.
"At this point, we cannot guarantee that donations though any source other than the Wand Children Benefit Fund will go to meet the needs of Sharon and Jessica."
The Department of Justice does not have evidence that fraudulent fundraising has occurred, according to spokesman Steven Means.
But it does have concerns about unofficial fundraising for the fire victims, and the advisory is a precaution.
"We're aware of some activities that have gone on. That does not mean those people were trying to con someone," Means said.
Sharon Wand is being treated in the burn unit at the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison.
"She's actually doing very well," Bobak said Friday afternoon, adding that for the first time since being hospitalized, Wand responded to her surroundings by blinking in response to a question.
Bobak said she couldn't provide an estimate for the number of people who've donated to the fund or the amount raised, but it's "doing well."
"The community has been very supportive," she said.
Wand's 2-year-old daughter is in foster care in Platteville, according to relatives.
Her husband Armin Wand III, 32, and his brother Jeremy Wand, 18, are charged with starting the house fire on Oak Street in Argyle with the intent of killing the family to collect on insurance. They face multiple counts of homicide in Lafayette County Circuit Court.
A memorial for Allen, Jeffery and Jo Jo Wand is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, at Argyle Park on North State Street (Wisconsin 78). In the case of bad weather, the memorial will be held in the Argyle High School gym down the road.
Dan Bohlman, a local pastor helping to organize the event, said it is not the boys' funeral but "a cross between remembering the kids and community healing."