Alive New York 2012 crumbles under allegations of financial mismanagement

Tuesday, March 27, 2012 by: Ethan A. Huff, staff writer
Tags: Alive New York, awards show, fundraiser

(NaturalNews) The ALIVE New York event that promised to celebrate pioneering natural health innovators, speakers and authors has imploded over the last 48 hours, with a co-founder of the event quitting and laying out allegations of gross financial mismanagement on the part of the other partners. A key speaker at the event, Dr. Leonard Coldwell, has not only pulled out of the event, he has posted a public message on his Facebook page as follows:

I and all my friends are pulling out of the Alive NY event based on the fact that they ( Anna and Josh Scurry) did not keep their promises and responsibilities to my dear friend the co-founder of Alive NY Liana Werner-Gray. They took her money and as I see it they screwed Liana over. All the people that I contacted are pulling out of the event. This is just for your information. Please support Liana she is really hurt by this betrayal and dishonesty. Liana site is Liana Ted Sun Love Dr C. (http://www.facebook.com/DrColdwell)

Over the last 72 hours, people deeply involved in the event contacted me on their own accord, then sent me documents, emails and recordings, along with personal testimony calling into question the financial activities of the ALIVE New York non-profit. This evidence raises serious questions about the financial integrity of the event.

It all sounded so good at first...

Both myself and Robert Scott Bell, whose popular show is broadcast on the NaturalNews Radio Network (www.NaturalNewsRadio.com) had helped publicize the event, which we were led to believe was a non-profit effort to celebrate top people in the natural health industry. Many top names were invited to speak, and the organization had even planned to offer myself (the Health Ranger) an award. The event has been in planning for over 14 months, and it had received nothing but positive publicity until the last 72 hours.

Both Deepak Chopra and Olivia Newton-John had posted videos accepting their appearances at the ALIVE New York event. The ALIVE website featured pictures of celebrities like Justin Timberlake, Justin Beiber, Russell Brand and Will Smith.

Suddenly, we began to receive word that the organizers were short of the funds they needed to pay the venue where the event was to be hosted. An email surfaced, showing a planned $70,000 expense for an after party for only 100 people. A large amount of money also appears to have been spent by the non-profit for two months' rent on a luxury New York apartment for two of the event organizers, Joshua and Anna Scurry.

Liana Werner-Gray, a co-founder of the event, contacted us and was in tears after having spent 14 months of her life helping to organize the event. She told NaturalNews she had loaned $15,000 to the non-profit to help them get through a cash crisis a few months ago, but when she asked for the $15,000 to be returned, she said she was told it was now considered a "donation" and she wouldn't be repaid. She said she had been counting on the loan being returned to her so she could print her new book, "The Earth Diet," which she said was supposed to be launched at the event.

I attempted to call Anna Scurry for her response but only reached her voice mail. I left her a voice mail asking her to call us back to answer some questions, and I also expressed my astonishment at what I had learned so far. Instead of receiving a call back from Anna, I got word that Anna's attorney was calling several people involved and threatening them with libel lawsuits if they didn't shut their mouths and stay quiet. According to a trusted source, their attorney said that "anyone who talks about it" will be targeted with a lawsuit.

Dr. Coldwell was also contacted by their attorney and characterized the call as "criminal harassment." His Facebook post reads, "Their lawyer just called me - looks like criminal harassment to me if she calls again I have her answering to the Bar and the Court since I have an in house lawyer now it does not cost me anything."

Liana Werner-Gray has issued a public statement. It is reprinted in full, below. Her video explanation of events is available at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGebHTPI9-o

From her video:

"They have lied to a lot of people. They are following the greed and the money..."

"They are not doing it for the right reasons... this is why the planet is so sick, because people sell out."

"Joshua and Anna Scurry were completely lying with a straight face about a lot of things..."

"I was blind, I didn't see a lot of their behaviors... a lot of sponsors are very upset."

"But I will never sell out. I will stay true to humanity."

Top supporters pull out of the event

For the record, both myself and Robert Scott Bell have now, upon learning this information, have officially pulled out of the event. Dr. Leonard Coldwell pulled out even before we did. Rockin' Wellness has also reportedly pulled out. We have heard that others are pulling out as well. This is all unfortunate news for Jesse McCartney, who was slated to be the keynote host, and who undoubtedly had no knowledge of any of this (as we didn't either). He was graciously volunteering his time and travel expenses to be there because he believes in natural healing and wanted to be part of something positive and uplifting.

In fact, all of us had volunteered our time, or money, or publicity efforts to help promote this event. But it appears to be something that somehow got off track from what we believed it to be. Based on what I have learned in the last 48 hours or so, I will be no part of it, and Robert Scott Bell, who had planned to broadcast live from the event, also informed me he wants nothing to do with it at this point.

Dr. Leonard Coldwell told me today, "I am pulling out of the ALIVE New York event because of the unprofessional and deceptive way Anna and Josh treated my friend the co-founder of ALIVE, Liana Werner Gray." He is likely to have more to say.

Statement from whistleblower Liana Werner-Gray

http://www.theearthdiet.blogspot.com/2012/06...

Hey guys,

I am here to blow the whistle on what is RIGHT and what is NOT with ALIVE New York! www.ALIVENewYork.com

I am no longer part of ALIVE. I want no association with it whatsoever.

The following is based on my personal experience and opinions.

I began ALIVE with a dream of seeing the people on this planet MORE healthy than not. There are 7 billion of us here, and the majority of people are sick, have cancer or dis-ease and depression. I know from my own experience that sickness and cancer can be self healed, and a beautiful life can be lived where we feel GOOD most of the time, and feel bad LESS OF THE TIME!

My intention with ALIVE New York was to gather the World's most influential and inspiring leaders in one place to share stories of health, hope, healing and new natural treatments AND proper nourishment through nutrition. I teamed up with Joshua and Anna Scurry who at the time I thought had the same intention.

It turns out not.... the last few days I have received emails and phone calls from people, speakers and sponsors who heard 'bad' things about ALIVE and about the intent of Joshua and Anna Scurry. I was blind to it all until a few days ago when it all unraveled. It turns out they have been stealing money, including my own which I invested ALOT into this and have been making decisions based off greed and fear. Their decisions have upset ALOT of people. They did alot of things behind my back even though we had an agreement to be the 3 decision makers of the event to keep it pure and UN-corrupt! Now it is a mess and they thought they could get away with their greed based decisions and actions!

I am absolutely heartbroken, I spent my own money, put energy and time into this EVERY SINGLE DAY for over 14 months and the event was meant to happen in 8 days. Yesterday at the production meeting I saw how 2 human beings (Josh and Anna) could lie with straight faces and it was shocking. They were disgusting and many witnesses were there to see it. I knew then this event was not able to be saved, and I cannot attach myself to something that does not have the pure intent for helping people. ALIVE New York is now in the hands of the WRONG PEOPLE.

I apologize to all the people who purchased tickets because of me promoting and being part of the event. If you did, send me an email [email protected] and I will send you a FREE E-BOOK copy of The Earth Diet. I now have a lot of cleaning up to do, and apologizing to a lot of people who were excited for this event to happen.

I know from this experience I will never sell out, I cannot. It is not in my nature, it is not who I am. It is not about the money to me, it never has been. When I did "Miss Earth Australia" beauty pageant I did not ride in the HUMMER'S that picked the girls up for a city ride, because I do not want to be part of sending the wrong message to people and I do not want to encourage people to ride in hummers! I would prefer to encourage people to JUICE EVERYDAY!

Lots of love to you guys, one thing is for sure is that if you follow money and greed EVENTUALLY it will catch up to you, you will be found out. When you do things from love and pure intent you are rewarded. We really need to intervene here people, the planet is in crisis mode, we have to ACT for it to be a healthy place. Too many people are dying of sickness, my friends Wife died a few days ago from a completely unexpected heart attack! My friends new born baby was born with a tumour a couple of weeks ago! It is unnatural to feel bad and have dis-ease!!! We know it is unnatural because it doesn't feel good, and when we feel bad all we want is to feel good again and feel peace and love.

ALWAYS STAY TRUE TO YOU!!! One thing you can count on me for is to never sell out, I will always remain true and loyal to the mission of health for humanity. If you want to be healthy and live a full life you can and will and I am here to share that!

I should also add that I am not perfect and of course I make mistakes probably everyday too without even knowing it, but I do know how to stay true to myself, and always will. I will never sell out on you guys, and because if I do that I am also selling out on myself. We are all connected and all in this together. Lets enjoy planet earth and appreciate being ALIVE and being able to breathe right now in this moment!

Lots of love
Liana Werner-Gray