Robert Lichfield

2 weeks ago 330

clean up, rm content about a now-dismissed lawsuit that only involved a center named for Lichfield (not actions by Lichfield) per WP:BLP

← Previous revision		Revision as of 16:02, 4 July 2025
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	{{Short description\|American businessman}}		{{Short description\|American businessman}}
	{{Use mdy dates\|date=March 2025}}		{{Use mdy dates\|date=March 2025}}
	'''Robert Lichfield''' is an American businessman who was the founder of [[World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools]].<ref>{{Cite news \|last=Williams \|first=Timothy \|date=July 24, 2013 \|title=Students Recall Special Schools Run Like Jails \|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/24/us/students-recall-a-school-run-like-a-prison.html \|access-date=March 9, 2024 \|work=The New York Times \|language=en-US \|issn=0362-4331 \|quote="Robert B. Lichfield, the founder of the network, the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools," \|archive-date=March 7, 2024 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240307184013/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/24/us/students-recall-a-school-run-like-a-prison.html \|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news \|last=Weiner \|first=Tim \|date=September 6, 2003 \|title=Program to Help Youths Has Troubles of Its Own \|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/06/us/program-to-help-youths-has-troubles-of-its-own.html \|access-date=March 9, 2024 \|work=The New York Times \|language=en-US \|issn=0362-4331 \|archive-date=March 6, 2024 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240306200755/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/06/us/program-to-help-youths-has-troubles-of-its-own.html \|url-status=live }}</ref>		'''Robert Lichfield''' is an American businessman who was the founder of [[World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools]].<ref>{{Cite news \|last=Williams \|first=Timothy \|date=July 24, 2013 \|title=Students Recall Special Schools Run Like Jails \|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/24/us/students-recall-a-school-run-like-a-prison.html \|access-date=March 9, 2024 \|work=The New York Times \|language=en-US \|issn=0362-4331 \|quote="Robert B. Lichfield, the founder of the network, the World Wide Association of Specialty Programs and Schools," \|archive-date=March 7, 2024 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240307184013/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/24/us/students-recall-a-school-run-like-a-prison.html \|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news \|last=Weiner \|first=Tim \|date=September 6, 2003 \|title=Program to Help Youths Has Troubles of Its Own \|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/06/us/program-to-help-youths-has-troubles-of-its-own.html \|access-date=March 9, 2024 \|work=The New York Times \|language=en-US \|issn=0362-4331 \|archive-date=March 6, 2024 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240306200755/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/06/us/program-to-help-youths-has-troubles-of-its-own.html \|url-status=live }}</ref> He started working in the [[troubled teen industry]] in 1977. His first job in the industry was at [[Provo Canyon School]] as a dorm parent{{huh\|date=June 2024}}. Then in 1987 he started the [[Cross Creek Programs\|Cross Creek School]].<ref>{{Cite news \|last=Dahlburg \|first=John-Thor \|date=July 13, 2003 \|title=Key to His Schools' Success? It's God, Founder Says \|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jul-13-na-toughbar13-story.html \|access-date=March 9, 2024 \|work=[[Los Angeles Times]] \|issn=2165-1736 \|archive-date=March 7, 2024 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240307215729/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jul-13-na-toughbar13-story.html \|url-status=live }}</ref>

		⚫	Lichfield has been linked to controversial network of schools for troubled teens and allegations of abuse and fraud.<ref>{{Cite web \|date=March 28, 2008 \|title=Romney's Top Fundraiser, Linked To Abuse And Fraud, Asked To Step Down \|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/romneys-top-fundraiser-li_n_63284 \|access-date=April 13, 2024 \|website=HuffPost \|language=en}}</ref> Lichfield was the founder of [[Academy at Ivy Ridge]], as well as many other school programs reported to have committed child abuse.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Rood \|first=Lee \|title=Parents of abused Midwest Academy students pursue founder \|url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/investigations/readers-watchdog/2017/04/15/parents-abused-midwest-academy-students-pursue-founder/100468622/ \|url-status=live \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311043810/https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/investigations/readers-watchdog/2017/04/15/parents-abused-midwest-academy-students-pursue-founder/100468622/ \|archive-date=March 11, 2024 \|access-date=March 11, 2024 \|website=The Des Moines Register \|language=en-US}}</ref> These were documented in the 2024 [[Netflix]] docu-series ''[[The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping]]'', which featured former students of the WWASPS programs.<ref>{{Cite magazine \|date=March 5, 2024 \|title=Netflix Doc 'The Program' Exposes the Troubled Teen Industry \|url=https://time.com/6837656/the-program-cons-cults-kidnapping-netflix-documentary-series/ \|access-date=April 14, 2024 \|magazine=TIME \|language=en}}</ref>
	He started working in the [[troubled teen industry]] in 1977. His first job in the industry was at [[Provo Canyon School]] as a dorm parent{{huh\|date=June 2024}}. Then in 1987 he started the [[Cross Creek Programs\|Cross Creek School]].<ref>{{Cite news \|last=Dahlburg \|first=John-Thor \|date=July 13, 2003 \|title=Key to His Schools' Success? It's God, Founder Says \|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jul-13-na-toughbar13-story.html \|access-date=March 9, 2024 \|work=[[Los Angeles Times]] \|issn=2165-1736 \|archive-date=March 7, 2024 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240307215729/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jul-13-na-toughbar13-story.html \|url-status=live }}</ref>

	He has been linked to controversial network of schools for troubled teens and allegations of abuse and fraud,<ref>{{Cite web \|date=March 28, 2008 \|title=Romney's Top Fundraiser, Linked To Abuse And Fraud, Asked To Step Down \|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/romneys-top-fundraiser-li_n_63284 \|access-date=April 13, 2024 \|website=HuffPost \|language=en}}</ref> and is a long-time campaign fundraiser for [[Republican Party (United States)\|Republican]] senator and 2012 presidential candidate [[Mitt Romney]].<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Rood \|first=Lee \|title=Midwest founder helped create troubled-teens industry \|url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2016/04/16/midwest-founder-helped-create-troubled-teens-industry/82992202/ \|access-date=March 11, 2024 \|website=The Des Moines Register \|language=en-US \|archive-date=March 11, 2024 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311043811/https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2016/04/16/midwest-founder-helped-create-troubled-teens-industry/82992202/ \|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Szalavitz \|first=Maia \|date=June 27, 2007 \|title=Romney, Torture, and Teens \|url=https://reason.com/2007/06/27/romney-torture-and-teens/ \|access-date=March 11, 2024 \|website=Reason.com \|language=en-US \|archive-date=January 29, 2024 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129024620/https://reason.com/2007/06/27/romney-torture-and-teens/ \|url-status=live }}</ref>		Lichfield is a long-time campaign fundraiser for [[Republican Party (United States)\|Republican]] Senator and 2012 presidential candidate [[Mitt Romney]].<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Rood \|first=Lee \|title=Midwest founder helped create troubled-teens industry \|url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2016/04/16/midwest-founder-helped-create-troubled-teens-industry/82992202/ \|access-date=March 11, 2024 \|website=The Des Moines Register \|language=en-US \|archive-date=March 11, 2024 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311043811/https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/2016/04/16/midwest-founder-helped-create-troubled-teens-industry/82992202/ \|url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web \|last=Szalavitz \|first=Maia \|date=June 27, 2007 \|title=Romney, Torture, and Teens \|url=https://reason.com/2007/06/27/romney-torture-and-teens/ \|access-date=March 11, 2024 \|website=Reason.com \|language=en-US \|archive-date=January 29, 2024 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240129024620/https://reason.com/2007/06/27/romney-torture-and-teens/ \|url-status=live }}</ref>

	== Controversy ==
⚫	Lichfield was the founder of [[Academy at Ivy Ridge]], as well as many other school programs reported to have committed child abuse.<ref>{{Cite web \|last=Rood \|first=Lee \|title=Parents of abused Midwest Academy students pursue founder \|url=https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/investigations/readers-watchdog/2017/04/15/parents-abused-midwest-academy-students-pursue-founder/100468622/ \|access-date=March 11, 2024 \|website=The Des Moines Register \|language=en-US \|archive-date=March 11, 2024 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311043810/https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/investigations/readers-watchdog/2017/04/15/parents-abused-midwest-academy-students-pursue-founder/100468622/ \|url-status=live }}</ref> These were documented in the 2024 [[Netflix]] docu-series ''[[The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping]]'', which featured former students of the WWASPS programs.<ref>{{Cite magazine \|date=March 5, 2024 \|title=Netflix Doc 'The Program' Exposes the Troubled Teen Industry \|url=https://time.com/6837656/the-program-cons-cults-kidnapping-netflix-documentary-series/ \|access-date=April 14, 2024 \|magazine=TIME \|language=en}}</ref>

	In 2023, Robert Lichfield donated a building to be used as a youth recreation center in the town of [[Hurricane, Utah]], which was named the Bob Lichfield Recreation Center. The center is controversial for numerous reasons including a 2011 Utah lawsuit, where "500 parents and former residents sued WWASPS, alleging in court papers that students were beaten, chained, locked in dog cages, forced to eat vomit and made to lie in urine and feces as [[Cruel and unusual punishment\|punishment]]. The complaint also alleges students were forced into sexual acts. A judge dismissed that lawsuit several years later, ruling the group had not properly argued a fraud claim."<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Some don't want a building named for controversial founder of 'troubled teen' programs. Here's why Hurricane's mayor isn't backing down. \|url=https://www.sltrib.com/news/2023/09/29/some-dont-want-building-named/ \|access-date=March 10, 2024 \|website=The Salt Lake Tribune \|language=en-US \|archive-date=March 9, 2024 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240309034652/https://www.sltrib.com/news/2023/09/29/some-dont-want-building-named/ \|url-status=live }}</ref>

	==References==		==References==