I tried to get an interview with Rachel’s Challenge, but they were only interested in taking my order.

Rachel’s Challenge is supposedly a non-profit organization that hopes to start a chain reaction with kindness. Just kindness. So why would JC have to pay $2,900 for one presentation and one peer training session? Kindness is free.

The more I thought about the organization’s mission, “to inspire, equip and empower every person to create a permanent [sic] positive culture change in their school…,” according to RachelsChallenge.org, the more I found it unnecessary for serious funding.

It’s understandable that the company would need money for travel and salaries but the full-time employees, including Rachel’s father Darrell Scott, are paid in salaries that are monitored by the Board of Directors.

Both Darrell and Sandy Scott, Rachel’s step-mother, are on the Board of Directors, which means that they have control over their own salaries.

“It almost seemed as if the brother [Craig Scott] made a career from his sister’s death,” junior Christie Macdonald said. At first I was skeptical of that statement, but the more I found out about Rachel’s Challenge’s funding choices, the more the statement seemed to make sense.

It even seems as if the whole family may be trying to profit through Rachel’s death. Sharing kindness is a good, universal message, but a family starting a company and managing their own salaries seems a little suspicious.

A link on the website right next to “RC Store” says “Donate!” According to Stacey Peacock, the Rachel’s Challenge Marketing Director for Maryland, the donations are rationed throughout the organization for salaries.

Donations go directly into employees’ pockets. Not to supporting another organization with a similar mission and not to furthering Rachel’s Challenge’s impact, but straight to employees.

Be careful when you research Rachel’s Challenge so you don’t accidentally contact the store instead of the Marketing Department. Even so, it is inevitable that you will probably be asked the same question: “Would you like to buy a t-shirt?”

Sarah Kearby can be reached for comment at [email protected]