BOSTON (AP) - Nonprofit groups in Boston's Jamaica Plain and
Roxbury neighborhoods say they suffered a severe blow when former
Sen. Dianne Wilkerson was charged with corruption.

In 2004, as an ex-officio board member of the Roxbury Trust Fund
Committee, Wilkerson helped set up an annual $300,000 gift to
various Roxbury nonprofits that focus on youth development and
family services.

She also convinced Sovereign Bank to commit $3.6 billion to a
community investment plan to benefit area nonprofit organizations,
businesses and residents.

But this fall, Wilkerson lost to Sonia Chang-Diaz in a tough
Democratic party primary race and is facing conspiracy and
attempted extortion charges for allegedly accepting $23,500 in
bribes.

Now, her district's nonprofit organizations work to stay afloat
amid slashed funding and reduced donations without her help.