The same Daryl Gates whose leadership of the LAPD spawned the likes of Mark Furman of OJ infamy. The DARE program apparently has some infamy of its own. Kids are told these messages are anonymous but they aren't told their parents will be busted and the kiddies subsequently parent free.
Private donations can be anonymous.
Yes, it is clear that a lot of hands are in the taxpayers pockets. A huge DARE bureaucracy has grown and is now feeding off itself as long as monies keep pouring in. The public, in turn, feeds on its delusion of comfort that DARE is keeping children off drugs even though study after study has shown DARE to be of little or no efficacy. Much like AA and NA who don't and can't show any success rate. They think they're clever.