Vanessa Palestino

Response From Vanessa Palestino

This response is to explain in full and truthful detail to the false accusations made by Brandon Lavere.

1. Our organization was established in August, 2011. We are not even a full year into growth. I originally approached Brandon about creating our website as a donation. He agreed and proceeded to create a very mediocre website and claimed it was worth upwards of $3,000. He asked for some type of compensation for the work he had done which was quite unfair because he agreed to do the work for free. He asked for $500 in return for his work, which was beyond lacking there of.

2. At this time, we did not posses any funds, nor was it the intent of any funds raised to compensate someone who originally agreed to donate their time or services. After Brandon’s persistence, I told him that we could compensate him after the organization had raised ample funds. He pressed for an exact date which I told him I couldn’t give him because let’s face it, no one can predict the future. I told him we would hope to pay him after our first fundraiser if we were able.

3. The funds raised at this event were to benefit the University Preparatory Academy of Detroit first and foremost. Which it did, and they were more than gracious in accepting the donation that was more than deserved. Forgive me, but our main purpose in this foundation is to raise money for after school programs and activities, not make sure that we raise $500 to pay a ‘web designer’ for pitiful work who agreed to do the work for free in the first place.

4. My significant other is a professional athlete, so Brandon, being the unprofessional that he is, told me to ask my boyfriend for money. I told him absolutely not, that isn’t the way we do business and it isn’t my boyfriend’s responsibility to give you money because you decided to demand it out of the blue. I told him that as soon as we have the ample funds, I will make sure he is compensated. But not until then since, once again, HE ORIGINALLY AGREED TO CREATE OUR WEBSITE AS A DONATION.

5. He proceded to turn off our website, and handle the action as a child. Laughing about it and making snide comments. By this action, he in fact prevented a team mate of my boyfriend to make a donation.

6. The bottom line is, there was never a formal agreement that we were going to pay him or when because I could not give him any guarantees. That is why Brandon had to find a website such as this one to lash out and whine about money that we quite frankly, do not owe him.
He lied about doing our site for free, he demanded money after the fact and he lied about the value of the website. I quickly cut ties with him for these reasons.

7. As a side note, I did some research and created the current website we have now. Mind you, I have no graphic or web design experience of any sort. If the website he made was worth $3,000 then the one I created must be worth at least $10,000.

8. Brandon’s complaint is nothing more than his pathetic continued efforts to try and con our organization out of money. We are a non profit dedicated to making a difference for after school programs and activities in communities all over the country. We absolutely will not tolerate working with dishonest and unprofessional individuals such as Brandon Lavere.