Local businessman makes De Vaul challenge

November 25, 2009

Local businessman Kyle Wiens made a public pledge Wednesday night to donate $4,000 to Dan De Vaul and Sunny Acres, challenging 99 other local businesses to match his gift.

Wiens is founder and CEO of iFixit, a local company specializing in Mac and iPod repair. In a widely-circulated email, Wiens expressed disappointment over De Vaul’s being sent to county jail Monday morning.

“Sunny Acres is one of the best examples I’ve ever heard of for work-based rehabilitation and has achieved a remarkably low recidivism rate,” said Wiens in his email. “They are a model that should be supported, encouraged, and emulated. Instead our county government has shut him down.”

Wiens personally knows people who have been helped through the Sunny Acres program. He expressed concern that the growing national publicity over the case will result in “blaming local businesses and local service groups for not taking action.”

The $400,000 figure is often cited as the amount De Vaul needs to bring the Sunny Acres facility into code. De Vaul has since been released from jail on bond.

“We should take a stand to support people who are successfully rehabilitating people,” Wiens said.