Brittany Murphy Foundation returns cash, promises filings

[HMG] – Over the weekend it emerged the foundation created to honor Brittany Murphy and follow her charitable passions now she no longer can was apparently a fraud.

The story, first reported by TMZ centered on the fact that no documentation showing the foundation had non-profit status has ever been filed with either the IRS or the State of California — both of which are a legal requirement.

Founded last month by Brittany’s husband, Simon Monjack  and her mother, Sharon Murphy, the foundation presented itself as a charity and was soliciting funds from the public to support art education for children.

But the California Secretary of State’s office has no records of a ‘Brittany Murphy Foundation,’ and reps for the IRS say the group had never filed for 501(c)3 non-profit status.

Within an hour of the story  emerging, the web site was dead. It’s now back online, and promises to return donations already made, “until we have our non-profit status approved…before proceeding to honor Brittany’s charitable desires.”

The 32-year old actress died on December 30th from what the LA County Coroner has since determined was ‘pneumonia, anemia and prescription drug intoxication.’

Becoming a 501(c)3 can take over a year, but we’ll keep you advised how this reboot works out…