A former vice president of the Children’s Aid Society in Manhattan says the nonprofit organization’s former CEO, now a deputy mayor in the de Blasio administration, fired her because of her age.
Patricia Grayson, 61, claims Richard Buery frequently told her, “We need to hire 20-something energetic women from the Robin Hood Foundation . . .” and later let Grayson go despite recognizing her success as a fund-raiser.
Grayson worked at the society for nearly 24 years and was its vice president for development when she lost her job on July 26, 2013, according to an age discrimination lawsuit filed Wednesday in Manhattan Federal Court.
The executive, who says she refused a $240,967 severance agreement releasing the Society of all potential claims, says she was “beyond successful,” citing a nearly 32% increase in fund-raising from fiscal year 2010 to 2012.
Buery informed Grayson he was terminating her because there were several trustees who were “displeased with her performance,” according to the lawsuit.
But she claims the CEO’s actions tell a different story.
Grayson says Buery, de Blasio’s deputy mayor for strategic policy initiatives, had his staff draft an email that would be sent to Society members if Grayson signed the severance agreement. The email allegedly included “laudatory statements,” such as, “Pat has adeptly guided the agency’s development efforts with a steady hand.”
“There is no reasonable explanation for why (Buery) would on the one hand describe (Grayson)’s fund-raising successes as notable achievements . . . but on the other hand justify her termination by criticizing her fund-raising abilities,” the suit says.
“The Children’s Aid Society takes these matters very seriously and the executive committee of its board of trustees engaged an independent investigator with regard to Ms. Grayson’s allegations,” Society spokesman Anthony Ramos said. “After a thorough investigation, her allegations were not substantiated.”
“As the Children’s Aid Society has indicated, it previously engaged an independent investigator to investigate this complaint and found no grounds to support it,” a City Hall spokesman said. “The deputy mayor remains grateful for Ms. Grayson’s service.”
Employment lawyer Derek Smith — not part of the suit — says Buery’s alleged comments about “20-something” women are key to the case. “That shows an intent to discriminate, if true,” he said.
Grayson claims she had to be placed on a heart monitor due to stress from being fired. Her suit seeks back wages and unspecified damages. She declined to comment. Grayson’s old position remains open, her suit says.
