Oral Suer

Oral Suer was the CEO of the United Way of the National Capital Area in the Washington, D.C. area from 1974 to 2002. A career United Way executive, Suer helped local community leaders create United Way of the National Capital Area (UWNCA) from two predecessor organizations, United Givers Fund and the Health and Welfare Council, when he arrived in 1974. During his tenure, UWNCA raised over $1 billion for local charities.

In 2002, he was charged of defrauding his organization of several hundred thousand dollars through misuse of leave salary, misreporting expenses such as billing private travel to his company, and drawing retirement benefits from the UWNCA retirement fund while he was still working there.

In May 2004, he was convicted and sentenced to 27 months in jail.

References

• US Department of Justice criminal complaint (requires Acrobat Reader; 4 pages)
• The New York Times, March 5, 2004 - Former Head of United Way in the Washington Area Pleads Guilty to Theft
• Washington Post, Friday, March 5, 2004; Page B01. Area United Way's Ex-Chief Admits $500,000 Fraud. By Jacqueline L. Salmon, Washington Post Staff Writer
• Executive Update, May 2004 - True North Ethics Officer Michael Daigneault discusses changes at United Way of the National Capital Area.