'RHOBH' star Diana Jenkins and GVNG to distribute $102K to families of Lion Air Flight 610 victims
Update: The Sunela Foundation, founded by entrepreneur and philanthropist Diana Jenkins, and GVNG.org, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, announced on November 27 that they are preparing to distribute funds to benefit relatives of the 189 passengers and crew killed in 2018 when Lion Air Flight 610 crashed into the Java Sea shortly after takeoff in Indonesia. According to GVNG President Robbie Tombosky, more than $102,000 has been contributed to the victims of the Lion Air tragedy. The majority of the contributions came from Diana, who gave $100,000 to the initiative on September 9, according to Tombosky.
"Thanks to the generosity of Diana Jenkins and those who have donated to this project," Tombosky stated, "GVNG is now developing the best way to use those dollars to benefit the victims of this tragic plane crash.
"Diana expressed gratitude for the opportunity to assist family members of those killed in the Lion Air tragedy."Now that the fundraising efforts are coming to a close," Diana said, "I look forward to working with GVNG to put those funds to work to benefit the victims. I feel so much sympathy to those who lost loved ones in this tragedy and hope that our efforts can provide some comfort to them.
"GVNG receives and secures all donations to this initiative, which manages how those funds will help immediate family members of the Flight 610 victims. The funds earned through this effort have nothing to do with the current litigation stemming from the incident.
Read the original story below:
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Diana Jenkins claimed in September that she had donated $100,000 to widows and orphans allegedly victimized by Erika Jayne's divorced ex, Tom Girardi, which attorney, Ronald Richards, labeled as a baseless move. Tom and his now-defunct law firm, Girardi Keese, are accused of misusing $2 million in settlement funds owing to family members of plane disaster victims in 2018. The Bravo rookie stated earlier in September that the first outreach of her newly founded Sunela Foundation, a GVNG Partner, would be a contribution to the families of the Lion Air Flight 610 tragedy victims.
Edelson PC, the law company suing Erika Jayne and Tom Girardi on behalf of the relatives of the Lion Air Flight 610 tragedy victims, has disclosed that the reality star did not make the promised donation. Diana Jenkins, according to the class action lawyer, did not contact the Chicago-based business for help in contacting the five families of the other 184 accident victims scammed out of settlement money by Tom Girardi.
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Jay Edelson of Edelson PC was interviewed on attorney Emily Baker's podcast and discussed Erika Jayne and Diana Jenkins openly. First, he said how tough it is to watch Erika Jayne on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (who is accused of benefitting off her husband's schemes) live luxuriously on the Bravo reality show. Then Jay Edelson mentioned Diana Jenkins' $100,000 donation to Lion's Airplane tragedy widows and orphans. "And even the ones who claim that they care about the victims, who’s the most recent housewife, who’s getting booted off, with the $100,000 donation," he said. He asked the podcast host. "Oh Diana Jenkins!!" they both conclude, alluding to RHOBH star Diana Jenkins. "The one who said she paid your clients," Emily informs the class action lawyer.
"All of that was crap! Alright, now I’m going swear 'cause I’m pissed," Jay Edelson said. "That is total C-R-A-P!!"
Erika Jayne, Tom's co-conspirator in his crime spree, supported Diana Jenkins' announcement. The 'XXPEN$IVE' singer commented beneath the post with a string of red heart emojis.
In August 2022, Edelson PC's insurance paid out to Lion's Air tragedy victims. The five families that were duped out of settlement money by Tom Girardi's previous legal firm, Girardi & Keese, received at least $2 million. "As we previously announced, we have compensated the victims and are involved in ongoing litigation with those we believe were involved in the Girardi Ponzi scheme to both recoup our money and hopefully get additional damages for the Lion Air clients," Jay Edelson told Reuters.
“To the extent there are legitimate efforts made to provide donations [by Jenkins], 100% percent will go directly to the victims.”
Jay Edelson chastised Diana Jenkins in September for the manner in which she announced the contribution from her Sunela Foundation. He believes the reality star may not have done enough research before making such a big declaration about her contribution. "While Ms. Jenkins may be well-intentioned," stated the founder of Edelson PC, "we do not believe that issuing a press release and soliciting donations from the public without having done the necessary legwork is an appropriate way to proceed."