Since a “60 Minutes” segment in April aired allegations that Greg Mortenson falsified parts of his best-selling book and used donations to his nonprofit for his personal benefit, the Three Cups of Tea author has been unable to escape a harsh spotlight.

But here in Durango, that spotlight seems to be a bit kinder. Locals who worked to bring the author to Durango three years ago and helped raise money for his organization didn’t want to let the accusations overshadow the value of Mortenson’s work and his visit here.

“I think the cause is very noble, and I think Mortenson prosecuted it very successfully over a number of years – that’s where I think the emphasis should be,” said Bob Chaput, who helped organize a community breakfast during Mortenson’s visit. “The fact that he behaved like he behaved is also true, but it’s negative and doesn’t add anything to his stature.”

Durango’s connection to Mortenson and Three Cups of Tea started when Fort Lewis College chose the book for its Common Reading Experience in 2008. A requirement of the program is that the book’s author can visit and speak at the college.

The college booked Mortenson to speak for $1,000 before his book rocketed to stardom, said Bridget Irish, coordinator of the Common Reading Experience. But when Irish called to confirm the gig a few months later, staff at Mortenson’s nonprofit, the Central Asia Institute, told her it would cost $25,000 to $30,000 to book the author. After Irish requested the staff ask Mortenson directly about the previous arrangement, they came back with the answer that “of course he would honor the commitment,” she said.

Mortenson even paid for his own flights to and from Durango, she said.

“He worked from 7 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.,” Irish said. “I have never been around a person who could never say no as strongly as that man. We had a very scheduled day, and he stopped and talked to every person (who wanted to speak with him).”

In total, Durango raised about $200,000 for the Central Asia Institute, Irish said. Mortenson mentioned Durango’s generosity in his second book, Stones Into Schools.

From her experience working with Mortenson, Irish said she failed to see a man who would purposefully lie about his experiences or misuse the funds of his nonprofit.

“My experience with him was a bumbling, sweet, disorganized person who can’t say no and doesn’t know how to keep a schedule,” she said. “Now that the story comes out, am I sad about it? Of course.”

Though Chaput sees value in Mortenson’s cause, he didn’t negate the seriousness of the allegations.

“What conclusion I’ve drawn that is not disputable is that Mortenson is one lousy businessperson, and I think he ended up featuring himself as something above protocol,” he said.

He said Mortenson, as head of a nonprofit that has raised millions, needs to be more accountable to the public about his money.

The “60 Minutes” segment on CBS accused Mortenson of falsifying several important parts of his book, including his journey to Korphe, Pakistan, where the book said he built his first school. It also includes allegations that Mortenson used an inordinate amount of the funds from his nonprofit organization to support his domestic speaking engagements, including travel by private jet.

In anticipation of Mortenson’s visit in September 2008, local schools also rallied behind the cause and raised thousands of dollars for the Pennies for Peace program.

Park Elementary School raised $1,200 by collecting spare change.

“I really don’t know much about the case. Hopefully, he was honest, and hopefully he didn’t misuse the funds we raised for his cause,” said Scott Cooper, principal at Park.

Cooper instead focused on how students have more recently created Pennies for Japan and Pennies for Alabama based on Pennies for Peace.

“I like the thinking behind this because young students are inspired to do good things for people who are suffering, and any time a student has the opportunity to do that, it helps develop that whole child,” he said.

Dana Nielsen, leadership teacher at Escalante Middle School who helped facilitate the Pennies for Peace program there, said the accusations didn’t carry enough weight to concern her.

“If you look at all of those allegations, they aren’t substantive,” Nielsen said. “They don’t take anything away from what he’s doing, which is really wonderful for the world.”

ecowan@durango herald.com