ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Former St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa is stepping away from the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF), the nonprofit he founded in 1990, according to his family.
La Russa's wife and daughter, Elaine La Russa and Bianca La Russa, released a statement on social media saying they had "collectively concluded that we cannot support or participate in ARF's current leadership."
"It is with the utmost sadness that we decided to join with Tony, and formally resign from the Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation Board of Directors," the statement said.
"We hope that our withdrawal from the board and organization will prompt renewed focus on careful stewardship of the foundation and its mission," the statement continued. "Until we see significant change, we are stepping away from ARF and will dedicate our passion, time and resources to aid other animal welfare organizations. We remain hopeful that with meaningful changes, ARF can return to the mission and ideas upon which our family founded it 30 years ago."
Reports say there are allegations that current leadership is subjecting its employees to a toxic workplace that includes retaliatory behavior. A human resources manager filed a lawsuit in December 2020 alleging she was wrongfully terminated for calling for an investigation into such behavior.
An attorney, who says he's representing four former employees of ARF, says they allege "those in charge started to run the organization like a personal fiefdom at the expense of its loyal and dedicated employees," according to The Mercury News.
The three-time World Series winning manager started the foundation after a stray cat made its way onto the field in 1990 when La Russa was managing a game for the Oakland Athletics. After learning the cat would likely be euthanized, he and his family established a rescue shelter for dogs and cats.
The 76-year old La Russa came out of retirement last year to manage the Chicago White Sox.
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