Institutions are debating how to handle Lay charity

"The executives outright lied to us. They told us, 'You boys hang on to your stock. It's going to get better,' " said Prestwood from his Houston-area home, adding that he is living off about $800 a month. "If I knew there was something wrong with that company, I would've jumped ship. All of us would have.

"Ken Lay wasn't doing his job. If he would have, I wouldn't be living in poverty today."

While accused of robbing from the poor to give to the rich, Lay's charitable donations cannot be denied.

In 2001, tax records show, the Linda and Ken Lay Family Foundation contributed more than $6.1 million to everything from the American Liver Foundation ($58,000) to the Aspen Historical Society ($2,000).

Tax records show that just before bad times struck in 2001, the Lays contributed to a multitude of local interests including the Aspen Camp School for the Deaf ($1,250), Aspen Chapel ($2,500), The Aspen Institute ($10,000), Aspen Junior Hockey ($500), Aspen Santa Fe Ballet ($1,200), Aspen Theatre in the Park ($5,000) and the Aspen Valley Community Foundation ($9,000).

"I know the Lay story more than most in the Aspen area," said Dr. Phyllis Bronson, a founder of Aspen Clinic for Preventive and Environmental Medicine, which has received money from Lay. "I am very close to the family so of course I would like to see Ken's name redeemed. But now is probably not the time. . ."

Public relations experts hold a different view.

"An organization's reputation takes years to build and it can be destroyed in a heartbeat," said Jeanette Darnauer, owner and founder of Aspen-based Darnauer Group LLC. "I think the music festival should do what's right to maintain their integrity and to protect their reputation. . . .

"Ken Lay was convicted of hurting a lot of people. Any continued association with him is negative for the festival. I don't think they should disgrace their name by continuing to honor him by leaving his name in a place the public can see."