Feed the Children Founders: Hobby Lobby Attempting Hostile Takeover

By Rusty Surette, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The founders of Feed The Children say the family that owns Hobby Lobby is actively pursuing a "hostile takeover" of the organization. The Greens deny they're pursuing such a relationship and a spokesman for Feed The Children says there's "no merit" to such claims.

Feed The Children co-founders Larry and Frances Jones say last month they met with David and Mart Green to discuss the future of the 31-year-old non-profit.

Frances Jones isn't very optimistic about the organization she and her husband, Larry Jones, established in 1979.

"It's been very, very painful," Frances Jones said.

The Jones' say during the meeting, David and Mart Green revealed plans to take over operations of Feed the Children and merge it with another charity based in Missouri.

If it happens, the Jones say the Greens plan to appoint Mart Green as chairman of the board. Mart Green is currently the CEO of Mardel, an affiliated company of Oklahoma City-based Hobby Lobby.

Last year Larry Jones was fired by the board. He's now suing. Frances Jones is still there, but she'll lose her job Monday if she doesn't sign a confidentiality agreement that other employees are also being asked to sign.

"This board took over, and it's just turned everything upside down," said Frances Jones. "They just decided it is time for us to be gone." 

Jones' attorney, Gary Richardson, says the timing is suspicious. He says Jones is being forced out as another Oklahoma family begins what they call a hostile takeover of Feed The Children. That family is the Green family that owns Hobby Lobby.

"Why would this be attractive to the Greens?" Richardson said.

Tony Sellars, Director of Communications for Feed The Children, said the Greens had sent an e-mail to Feed The Children earlier this year offering to help the organization.

"We appreciate their concerns, but we're not interested in any help at this time," said Sellars. "We're on sound financial footing at this time, so we don't need assistance from outside groups."

The Greens have also denied any plans to take over the organization.

"If you take the heart out of an organization," said Frances. "That organization won't survive for very long."

Frances says she'll likely lose her job next week, but she'll fight to get it back. She'll fight, she says, for the children.

"I never, ever imagined somebody would say, 'You can't do that now,'" Frances said.

Mart Green released the following statement to NEWS 9:

"Our family has extensive experience in assisting ministries, which is why we felt compelled to reach out to Feed The Children. Although we have no ties to Feed The Children, we are concerned for the millions around the world who are helped by this organization each year. Currently, we are not actively pursuing a relationship with the organization, but we will leave the door open for future opportunities to assist them. We're praying for the organization and its leaders."

The Jones' daughter, Larri Sue, was also fired from Feed The Children last month, but the organization won't say why. Frances and her attorney are hoping to meet with the attorney general next week about these recent developments.

Larry Jones declined comment for this story because depositions in his wrongful termination suit are scheduled to begin later this month. If Frances Jones is fired Monday, her attorney says they will file a lawsuit for breach of employment contract.