Kimkins Dangers was the first to report that Kimmer (Heidi Diaz) is no longer a CASA, and posted that the Site Manager of the Riverside Satellite for CASA, Barbara Hofman was interested in information about monies collected by Heidi Diaz for her purported foster kids.
The contact information provided was:
Program: Riverside Satellite
Contact Name: Barbara Hofman, Site Manager
Address: 9991 County Farm Road
City: Riverside
State: California
Zip Code: 92503
Phone: (951) 358-4305
Edited to add email address: BHofman@casariversidecounty.org
Within her Kimkins forums, a challenge was initiated in June to raise money for ‘her kids’ who were supposedly aging out of the foster care system. The challenge was first started by Tippy Toes (an admin now) the following posted to lure members to commit to $1 per pound lost between July 1 and August 1, 2006,
Subject: How about a weight loss challenge to benefit Kimmer’s foster kids?
Author: Tippy Toes (edited to remove “admin” status as it has come to our attention that status is recent)
For those who don’t know this: 100% of Kimmers proceeds are going to help foster kids who turn 18 to get set up with housing, utilities, etc…
So here is my challenge:
Starting July 1st until August 1
Pick any of Kimmers plans you want or whatever works best for you.
Let’s post our start weight. For each pound we lose, plan to donate one dollar for Kimmer’s kids. (Example: If you lost 14 lbs, you owe $14.00.) I’ll get help from the webmaster to set us up with a paypal account at the end.
It’s for a good cause and getting us thinner doing it is almost as good too!
So…who’s in?
Now, not only did members pay to be in the forum, they were being solicited for more money for Kimmer (Heidi Diaz) and it’s clearly suggested that any money sent from the challenge will go for ‘her kids’.
The most important thing here, did Kimmer have foster kids in her care?
It’s been reported that Kimmer (Heidi Diaz) has made statements online to the effect that she was no longer a foster parent when she created a profile at a dating site, which was reported by Slamboard. Based on the information posted at the dating site, the profile was created in 2005 or at the latest, early 2006 (her son’s age was listed as 16, he just recently turned 18).
So, the question begs, did Kimmer knowingly allow collection of funds and then accept them? Based on her response in that thread, it appears she willing accepted that money was going to be collected for ‘her kids’ who may indeed have been phantoms of her imagination!
Subject: Re:How about a weight loss challenge to benefit Kimmer’s foster kids?
Author: Kimmer (Admin)
You know, it’s hard to type with tears in your eyes. How unbelievably generous you guys are!
I wasn’t going to say anything to anybody when the site started. It’s so tacky to talk about money, but I’m not above “tacky-osity” so …
For many years at LCF people asked me about starting my own site or writing a book, but I have a huge problem with making money.
It’s not the making money, per se, because I insist on top dollar when I’m working at a job. If I find out somebody else is making 10 cents an hour more than me for the same job, the whole office is going to hear about it!
I’ve always been weird about money. I almost have an aversion to it. This would explain why I’m not rich.
In my experience, I’ve seen people willing to do extreme or illegal things for money (cousin is a prostitute) and people who think cash buys anything. What even comes to mind are men who invite me to dinner and expect me to sleep with them because they bought me the #2 special at El Tio Pepe. Now, I don’t know what the going rate is for hookers, but I’m guessing it’s more than $8.99 plus tax and tip.
My problem is accepting something in return for helping people. I’ve always been that way. I’ve raised my sons with the same belief … you don’t take money for doing the right thing.
I volunteer with poor people in a local homeless shelter. I write & type their resumes, practice interviews and job applications and wrangle interview clothes to help get them on their feet. I babysit their kids for free. I’ve even bought monthly bus passes for those who do get a job. I’m a volunteer for the literacy program at the library and teach immigrants to read and write. But I’m OK with all of that because I don’t take money for doing it.
What is it with me and money?
As you all know I’m a foster mom. I only take teenage boys, usually 15-18, which is close my own son, 17. They would love for me to take teenage girls, but my heart isn’t strong enough for that stress, LOL … and I’d need a Rottweiler standing guard outside the girls’ room at night!
The boys have to leave when they’re 18. Imagine being a typical 18 year old, making minimum wage at Taco Bell (part time yet!) and having to come up with the stuff you need when you’re starting out. I live in a suburb of Los Angeles and there’s a huge foster population (sometimes it’s the kid, but usually it’s the parent that has the problem).
There are “some” county funds, but not enough for every kid. A few kids come to me just months before they’re forced to emancipate. If you can imagine how slow government works, that’s barely enough time to process the paperwork that they’re in the system, never mind getting $$ together for them to leave.
I couldn’t take money from this site or the book for myself. I just couldn’t, it’s my weird thing. But, if it would let me help my boys with move-in expenses for an apartment, get the electricity turned on, buy a small microwave, a bus pass or a set of towels. Now that’s appealing.
So, apparently I don’t have a problem making money from helping people if I use the money to help others. Bless you all.
Now consider just how devious such a post is, if in fact, Kimmer no longer had foster children in her care! If you, or someone you know, participated in the above challenge and eventually sent Kimmer money, please take a moment to contact Barbara Hofman at the above address and/or phone number.
28 comments
Comments feed for this article
September 5, 2007 at 3:15 pm
Concerned about kimkins
Ok may I ask who the hell besides a complete narcissist would write that long of a post bragging about herself? This “lady” makes me throw up in my mouth.
September 5, 2007 at 3:16 pm
Maggie
It’s disgusting how this woman LIES!
September 5, 2007 at 3:26 pm
ooBoo
“Phantoms of her imagination”….that’s exactly what it is, she doesn’t have foster kids anymore and still plays like she does. I really wish people would see all the lies and get it, this woman is a total fraud! But no, they still cling to her, still desperate to believe the lies.
September 5, 2007 at 3:31 pm
Concerned about kimkins
And the best part of all of it…
I volunteer with poor people in a local homeless shelter. I write & type their resumes, practice interviews and job applications and wrangle interview clothes to help get them on their feet. I babysit their kids for free.
Um…how do you do that dear kimmer? I thought you were agoraphobic? Strange?
September 5, 2007 at 3:32 pm
g
Ducky, I don’t remember Tippy ever being an admin at Kimmers site. But she did indeed start the challenge.
———————-
We have text copies and screenshots of the original posts made on the thread, and next to Tippy Toes name is the designation “Admin”. Perhaps she is no longer an admin, but it appears at the time she had that responsibility.
For anyone wondering, we edited the above post to limit ability of those within Kimkins to identify its author, but wanted to leave the question of whether Tippy Toes was admin status at the time of the thread.
September 5, 2007 at 3:42 pm
Kimkins Dangers
“It’s not the making money, per se, because I insist on top dollar when I’m working at a job. If I find out somebody else is making 10 cents an hour more than me for the same job, the whole office is going to hear about it!
I’ve always been weird about money. I almost have an aversion to it. This would explain why I’m not rich.”
INCREDIBLE considering that she, at that time, is known to have been collecting social security disability (and most likely still is!)
Aversion to money, OH PLEASE. What a hoot. That woman really has no morals.
We have contacted many authorities in CA and have NOT been able to verify that Heidi has had any foster children – at least since 2004. The State of CA Foster Parent Ombudsman office says that anyone found medically disabled and collecting social security disability would be immediately disqualified from the foster parent program.
So she’s either lying about SSI or lying about foster children or both! Who can tell anymore with this nutter!
But please, to reiterate what Ducky has said, PLEASE contact Barbara Hofman if you have any more information about the fundraisers for the “foster children”.
September 5, 2007 at 3:48 pm
ixtapacheryl
Oh my goodness – I never saw that post from Kimmer before. That is just horrible. How could anyone accept the money knowing full well they are deceiving all the generous members. I think it is deplorable! There is a place for people like that. Maybe she feels she didn’t commit fraud because she didn’t ask for the donations in the first place. Thank goodness I didn’t donate. She is pathetic to say the least.
September 5, 2007 at 3:54 pm
Watcher
W/o standing up for Heidi in the slightest, I can see that it was possible for the Kid Challenge to come at the end of her fostering (whether or not Kimmer knew it was the end), and accepting the 1-month’s collection for her most recent fosterlings or her favorites. Moreover, she didn’t initiate it. So fraud would be difficult to prove when voluntary donations are offered. Sort of like Manna from heaven, as the saying goes. She admits to being tacky, and I agree. But tacky isn’t illegal, as far as I know.
—————-
From the information we have seen, it is unlikely she was still a foster parent at the time of the challenge. Even if she was, the foster care program has specific guidelines about money, even donations, for a foster child. If she collected monies, without having any foster children in her care, that is fraud. If she collected monies while a child was in her care, she had specific reporting guidelines to follow, that if she did not, is also fraud. As Kimkins Dangers pointed out, Barbara Hofman wants to know who sent her money and who cashed the checks. We doubt the state CASA agency would be interested in this if they did not believe something was not right.
September 5, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Concerned about kimkins
I too have an aversion to money. Which is why I will now STOP giving free advice on dieting and begin to charge $60 for it. I will also call it Concernedkins or Concerned watchers, or Concernedmans. But I assure you it is not for the money. It’s simply for the “Joy” of helping those less fortunate. ((((pats halo))))
September 5, 2007 at 4:01 pm
Jean
I never believed it, when this, and other ‘fund raisers’ were organized.
Each time, they were made a ’sticky’ at the top of each and every forum.. By or at least with, permission of Heidi. Turned my stomach every time I had to see them.
September 5, 2007 at 4:19 pm
Kim
As a current CASA who does work with foster kids and the family courts, this absolutely turns my stomach! I have had cases with kids in foster homes that are wonderful but then I’ve seen some homes that aren’t the best, but this takes it to a whole different level. I’m hope some people come forward who participated in this and she gets what she deserves.
September 5, 2007 at 4:20 pm
M
Ducky, here is Barbara’s email address at work — it’s publicly posted on the internet, so I’m going to assume it’s okay.
BHofman@casariversidecounty.org
I thought I’d send you this in case you want to add it to the contact info.
——————-
Edited to remove identifying details.
September 5, 2007 at 4:26 pm
concerned
Wow… thanks for posting this information.
It’s Kimmer’s version of the “Big Lie” (according to wikipedia, the Big Lie is a propaganda technique in which the lie is so complex that the public will either dismiss it as impossible or choose not to believe it out of willful ignorance).
September 5, 2007 at 4:28 pm
Mimi
Oh I just noticed Jean’s comment above … “other fund raisers “?!
More info, please!
September 5, 2007 at 4:30 pm
PhatPatty
I remember around Christmas there was some jewlery sale to benefit “her kids”…..it should be in the newsletter since she promoted it heavily at the time herself!
September 5, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Tam (Kimkins refugee)
There’s a warning in the Bible to the people of God who chose to follow their own way rather than God’s: (you can) be sure your sin will find you out!
I used to admire Kimmer when she first showed up at LCF but all I’m feeling lately is absolute disgust. What a shame.
September 5, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Mimi
Thank you Patty. This and other fund raisers definitely should be reported to Barbara Hofman at the CASA office
September 5, 2007 at 5:01 pm
selazar_weightloss
My wife and I stopped eating in restaurants and starting cooking at home. Two things immediately happened, we saved a lot of money and we gained weight! The food tasted so good that we ate more. Now we\’ve cut back on portion size and have started to…
September 5, 2007 at 5:06 pm
The Foster Care Kids Challenge, July 2006 by diet.MEDtrials.info
[…] help from the webmaster to set us up with a paypal account at the end. …article continues at Just Ducky brought to you by diet.medtrials.info and […]
September 5, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Mimi
Ducky: selazar_weightloss is a spammer.
September 5, 2007 at 6:49 pm
Kimkins Dangers
A poster on ALC spoke with CA Children’s Services who verified that Heidi Diaz has not been paid a foster parent stipend for at least the last 7 years.
No stipend means no foster children…….
I’d hope that the Kimkins members defending her, even after the release of the pictures will finally see the light.
Lying about losing weight is one thing. Lying about foster children and accepting money on their behalf when THEY DON’T EXIST is another thing entirely.
September 5, 2007 at 9:05 pm
lovinlocarb
Actually…
Tippy was not an admin at THAT time. She just became one in the last week. Her profile was just updated with that title so that why it’s showing up in your recently retrieved screenshots.
Last summer, at the time of the challenge–there were no admins other than Kimmer and Catherine. Becky was added later, close to December and then after her no new ones were added until the explosion of growth with the WW mag release.
September 6, 2007 at 12:03 am
mariasol
Tippy Toes was not an administrator at the time of the fund raiser (July last year) but she is now. I believe she was appointed shortly after the others that were officially named in a post by Christin a few days ago.
September 7, 2007 at 2:23 am
finleysmom
I guess I am all confused….She never made any money while giving free advice (weather healthy or not) on LCF and spent LOTS of time emailing and helping others. SHE was approached to start kimkins.com. She didn’t start it herself. She spent years not making a CENT off helping others. Plus, the amount of knowledge about how the diet works is amazing. She must have lost the weight at one point… I agree that something is not right here. Anyone have any thoughts?
September 7, 2007 at 5:52 pm
Kimkins Fundraising Adventures « Kimkins Exposed
[…] Diaz, CASA, lies, foster children, Kimkins, Kimmer, children Earlier this week we reported on the Foster Kids Challenge within the Kimkins site in the summer of 2006. We also reported when Kimkins Dangers posted that […]
September 10, 2007 at 11:02 am
Anonymous
her son’s blog says he has (had?) a foster brother that joined the army http://www.thecorruptedcanvas.com/Forum/index.php?topic=230
September 11, 2007 at 5:02 pm
Getting to Know Tippy Toes « Kimkins Exposed
[…] like to remind readers that this is the same Tippy Toes who organized the fundraiser for Kimmer’s (Heidi Diaz) phantom foster children last summer. Tippy accepted the position of Admin after revelation of the fact Heidi Diaz has no foster […]
November 27, 2007 at 4:05 pm
Heidi’s Foster Kids Revisited « Kimkins Scam
[…] Exposed also had posts pertaining to the alleged foster children. You can find those here and […]
