However, in a letter to "Houston Sky," MUFON spokesman Tom Deuley writes, "The statement is incorrect and has misled some people to think that the UFO groups are suddenly rich."
Deuley's letter continues: "We have not become suddenly rich, and there is no million dollars. What has happened, however, is that at the end of several sets of discussion, major donors have agreed to assist MUFON, CUFOS and FUFOR in supporting specific projects that the three UFO groups unanimously agree is [sic] worthwhile. In terms of new research money this is it, nothing more.
"As we go into the future, and as we find worthy projects to support, we may well total a million dollars someday. The hope would be that as we find success we will also find additional contributions to the cause."
In a second letter to Michael Lindemann, Mr. Deuley says, "in...situations that I am aware of, donors of significant amounts of money just do not want to have their names brought into the public eye. In one situation it has caused a donor to back away, and has likely cost us some opportunities."
Deuley also notes that "there are a number of rather nasty rumors running around out there regarding what is going on with this 'getting together' of these three [UFO] groups...We have been accused of being very secretive, yet few have even bothered to contact us." Here Deuley is referring to the fact that the three groups have been running ads in a number of publications, inviting people to submit research proposals worthy of funding support. "Tell anyone they are free to contact us for either grant proposal forms, or for information concerning us," Deuley says.
CNI News recognizes that some donors of UFO research funds desire anonymity. The name Robert Bigelow, however, is well known and has been associated with major UFO projects for a number of years. CNI News assumes Mr. Bigelow does not object to his name being mentioned in this regard, but we do apologize if our previously published information was inaccurate.
For further information, the three UFO groups can be contacted as follows:
Fund for UFO Research (FUFOR), phone: 703-684-6032
P.O. Box 277, Mt Rainier, MD 20712
Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), phone: 210-379-9216
103 Oldtowne Rd., Seguin, TX 78155-4099
J. Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS)
phone: 312-271-3611
2457 West Peterson Avenue, Chicago, IL 60659
Original file name: .CNI - MUFON $$?
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