It was a heart-wrenching story: A 10-year-old boy named John, separated from his mother since the hurricane, was living with other foster children in an emergency shelter, and he had one Christmas wish - to go home.
``But there's no way I'll get gifts for Christmas. I don't even believe in Santa anymore,'' he was quoted as saying.
The Brazosport Facts ran the profile on its front page Nov. 29 as part of its Fill-a-Stocking series, which features a different foster child each day from Thanksgiving through Christmas and solicits donations for a local charity to help fulfill the child's holiday wish.
But the story was a work of fiction.
State caseworkers apparently made it up to tug at readers' heartstrings.
Caseworkers with state Child Protective Services in Brazoria County, outside Houston, were responsible for writing the profiles for the newspaper's charity drive, which has been a holiday fixture in the 19,000-circulation paper since 1982.
Lauck said it does not appear the CPS caseworkers had any bad intentions.
``They were just trying to tell stories that would clearly tug at the heart, capture the emotions of the readers and inspire them to give more money,'' the TV reporter said. ``But they did it in a way that misled the public.''
Friday, December 09, 2005
Texas child protective service workers made up heart-tugging story for donations
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