PATERSON, N.J., May 13 (UPI) -- Tawana Brawley, who falsely accused six men of raping her 25 years ago, was celebrated at a fundraising event in New Jersey, officials said.

Attendees paid $50 for the Sunday event at Integrity Masonic Temple in Paterson, the New York Post reported.


While proceeds from the event went to fund a kids camp run by the Freedom Retreat for Children, some attendees also filled envelopes with cash for Brawley. It wasn't known how much she received.

When Brawley was 15, she was found in a trash bag in Dutchess County with slurs written on her body. She alleged she had been raped by six men, including former Dutchess County prosecutor Steven Pagones and a police officer. However, a grand jury found Brawley's accusations to be false.

Pagones won a defamation lawsuit against Brawley, who was ordered to pay $190,000. Since then, the amount she owes has grown to more than $430,000 with interest.

"Let's let this young queen Tawana know we love her to death," said incendiary former City College Professor Leonard Jeffries, the master of ceremonies for the event.

Brawley, now 40 and who was recently found living under an assumed name in Virginia, did not make any comments at the event.

Pagones, meanwhile, said he was outraged by the event.

"It's ridiculous," he told the Post. "If [Brawley] wanted to be a hero in the justice system, she could come out and admit the entire thing was a hoax. She can do the right thing -- she could just tell the truth."