Foundation Set To Help Steer Harbor Group Charity Funds

Prince George's County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) announced late Friday that a committee established to distribute charitable donations from the county's largest developer has formed a partnership with the Prince George's Community Foundation, after the committee's work in its first year of operation drew questions.

Johnson said the foundation will work with the National Harbor Community Outreach Committee, the panel assigned to disburse $3.5 million in charitable grants over 10 years from the Peterson Cos., developer of the $2 billion National Harbor complex along the Potomac River in Oxon Hill.

In 2004, the company agreed to set aside $350,000 each year for nonprofits as part of a deal with the county for public funding of infrastructure improvements. A committee appointed by Johnson and the County Council started meeting last spring and within months handed out $700,000 in National Harbor donations.

After council members raised questions about the group's work, The Washington Post reported that the committee had adopted no guidelines to steer its work and gave money to some organizations that had not applied for it, as well as to groups to which committee members had ties. A council member also personally handed out grants at a banquet to some groups that had not applied for them.

The Peterson Cos. is scheduled to make another $350,000 payment to the group next month. According to Friday's statement, the foundation will help the National Harbor committee establish written rules and publish a yearly report of the group's work. According to its Web site, the foundation has given $2 million to community groups since it was formed in 1994.