Community Foundation Sues Donor’s Father

The East Bay Community Foundation, in Oakland, Calif., has sued the father of a donor who left a substantial amount of money to the charity in his will, reports The Contra Costa Times.

The suit, filed in Contra Costa County, alleges that Thomas Gonzales, who is the executor of his son’s will and trustee of his son’s $90-million estate, has yet to transfer money that his son had designated for a trust established to help the needy, the paper reports.

A lawyer for the father said Thomas Gonzales was traveling and could not be reached for comment.

Thomas Gonzales Jr., who ran a successful software company prior to his death at age 35 in 2001, intended millions to be left in trusts, the paper reports, much of which would have gone to the East Bay Community Foundation. The foundation estimates it should have received at least $23-million but has received only $239,000.

In a statement on the foundation’s Web site, Karen Stevenson, the community foundation’s president, says: “ By filing this lawsuit against the inappropriate activities of his executor, we are acting to preserve our donor’s original charitable intent and deliver the benefit he intended to the community.”