A Las Vegas nonprofit, Project REAL, is grappling with internal upheaval after its former executive director, Thomas Kovach Jr., was charged with 19 counts of theft relating to the diversion of funds from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) Foundation to Project REAL. According to a statement obtained by 8 News Now, Kovach allegedly moved almost $350,000 into Project REAL and then paid himself $182,000 of those funds.
This revelation has come to shock and dismay the nonprofit's current leadership. "We are devastated to know that when Project REAL comes up in conversation this week, it will be about decisions Kovach made — and not the work we do," expressed the executive director of Project REAL, Mike Kamer. The nonprofit has been actively involved in teaching 18,000 students during the 2023-2024 school year about legal processes and civic engagement. The disruptive news threatens to overshadow the organization's efforts significantly, as Project REAL seeks to continue to meaningfully impact Nevada's youth.
Kovach's actions were discovered earlier this year after an internal investigation prompted a criminal investigation. Despite his lawyer, Dominic Gentile, claiming the transactions were 100 percent legal, as told to the Review-Journal, the police and the nonprofit have presented a different narrative. Kovach's alleged mismanagement resulted in Project REAL going $115,000 into debt.
Project REAL has taken steps to assure the public and its donors of its commitment to integrity and its mission. "We have an entirely new board of directors; and, most importantly, we have at least 10,000 students counting on our programs and service over the next nine months—all of which are already fully funded," Kamer said, emphasizing the nonprofit's resolve in not just weathering the storm but also in continuing to serve the community. The organization is conducting an audit and reassuring the community that its programs, including relationship violence prevention and "Adulting 101" guides, are still on track, as reported by 8 News Now.
Kovach is currently awaiting a court appearance scheduled for October 28. In the meantime, Project REAL is asking for community support and involvement to help sustain its mission despite the setbacks faced. Kamer has invited supporters to reach out to him directly with any queries, ensuring transparency and continued dialogue with stakeholders during this challenging period.
