Allegations against ‘Three Cups of Tea’ author trigger varying local responses

• Reprints

Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

It’s not quite a tempest in a teapot.

Becky Anderson is a little disappointed in the recent reports that there might be more than a hint of fabrication in the “Three Cups of Tea” story. But she’s not yet ready to condemn the book’s high-profile co-author, Greg Mortenson, who has been a repeated guest of Anderson’s downtown Naperville independent book shop.

Mortenson and his philanthropy, the Central Asia Institute, were the subject of a segment on CBS’ “60 Minutes” April 17 that featured numerous acquaintances disputing significant details of the author’s often-told story. Related to several Naperville audiences within the past couple of years, the narrative spotlights the aftermath of Mortenson’s aborted ascent of K2, the world’s second tallest peak. Mortenson describes how he was taken in, physically and emotionally exhausted, by the residents of the village of Korphe. The book he co-wrote about the experience, which has sold 4 million copies and spent 190 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list, describes how he vowed to build a school in the impoverished community as an expression of his gratitude.

That’s not how it happened, according to best-selling author Jon Krakauer. His recently published indictment of the saga, titled “Three Cups of Deceit,” asserts that Mortenson lied about events in his books and about the number of schools he built. Krakauer also reported that donations given through Mortenson’s school-focused Pennies for Peace program and other fundraising initiatives were spent on chartered jets, equipment and advertising for Mortenson’s books, the sales of which do not support his charity work.

The handling of at least $20 million given to Mortenson’s charity has caught the attention of Steve Bullock, attorney general in his home state of Montana. Bullock’s office launched an inquiry into the charity after the reports surfaced.

Still, Anderson — whose impression of Mortenson is that he’s not “a stickler for detail” — wants to hear all sides of the story before weighing in on the matter.

“I think we’re still waiting for the dust to settle on this, and wait and see what allegations are true and what are not,” she said earlier this week.

Mortenson, who spoke last month at Aurora University, has done much good, she said, promoting awareness of the oppression of women and girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

Locally, not all of Mortenson’s followers are taking Anderson’s wait-and-see approach. A stage adaptation of “Three Cups of Tea” scheduled for Sunday at Elgin Community College as a benefit for the Central Asia Institute has been canceled. Instead, a return engagement of the stage adaptation of “The Kite Runner” will replace it, according to ECC spokesman Kristopheré Owens.

A group of ECC students organized under the name TEA (Teach, Educate, Advocate) Around the World has worked since October to raise funds. So far, the ECC group has submitted $8,147 in contributions to the institute, while ECC retains an additional $15,811 in donations to the student-run project, Owens said. Once the college learned of the concerns raised, it immediately placed on hold the transfer of funds to the Central Asia Institute, Owens said.

“The students are working to make a wise and responsible decision regarding the future of this fundraising campaign,” Owens said. “They have resolved to find a responsible and credible organization to achieve their goal of supporting education for girls in Pakistan.”

Nancy Valladares, one of the leaders of the ECC organization, said the funds will go to an organization that helps to build schools in Pakistan.

“We decided to keep on going with our project regardless of the allegations (against Mortenson),” Valladares said. “Our goal is, first and foremost, to build a school. We ... want donors to feel like their money is going to the right place, and we are trying to make an informed decision.”

In February 2009, Mortenson described to an auditorium full of Neuqua Valley High School students how his effort to conquer the mountain was intended to honor his recently deceased sister, Christa. Mortenson planned to leave on the peak an amber necklace that had belonged to her before she succumbed to a massive epileptic seizure.

“On the way back from K2, I felt like I had the visors lifted off and realized I hadn’t seen the beauty of the mountains,” he said. “I was so focused on the summit, I never realized what was along the way. Sometimes you fail and make mistakes, but failing isn’t bad if you listen to your heart.”

Anderson — whose store hosted visits to the city by Mortenson in early 2007, when the book was the adult nonfiction selection for the Naperville READS community literacy project — hopes Mortenson’s alleged transgressions were just a series of easily explained mistakes. She doesn’t want the issue to hinder support for a segment of society that badly needs it.

“I don’t think he needed to stretch the truth at all to get his message across,” she said. “It makes people think twice, and that’s too bad, because this is a tough time for any charity.”

Staff writer Matt Hanley and The Associated Press contributed to this report.