Changes

In October 2016, Kirk participated in a [[Fox News]] event along with [[Donald Trump Jr.]], [[Eric Trump]], and [[Lara Trump]] that had a pro-[[Donald Trump]] tone. A Turning Point staff member wrote on Facebook that students who attended the event would have their expenses covered. The event led tax experts to say the organization's conduct may have violated its tax-exempt status, a charge disputed by Turning Point.<ref name=auto/>

In October 2016, Kirk participated in a [[Fox News]] event along with [[Donald Trump Jr.]], [[Eric Trump]], and [[Lara Trump]] that had a pro-[[Donald Trump]] tone. A Turning Point staff member wrote on Facebook that students who attended the event would have their expenses covered. The event led tax experts to say the organization's conduct may have violated its tax-exempt status, a charge disputed by Turning Point.<ref name=auto/>

== Founder Charlie Kirk ==

== Founder Late Charlie Kirk ==

[[File:Charlie Kirk by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg|thumb|upright|The group's founder, Charlie Kirk]]

[[File:Charlie Kirk by Gage Skidmore 2.jpg|thumb|upright|The group's founder, Charlie Kirk]]

The group's founder in the wake of his assassination his widow [[Erica Kirk]] is the current leader, Charlie Kirk, grew up in [[Prospect Heights, Illinois]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Kirk, Charlie, and Hamachek, Brent|title=Time for a Turning Point: Setting a Course Toward Free Markets and Limited Government for Future Generations|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=838mDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA4&lpg=PA4&dq=%22charlie+kirk%22+%22PRospect+heights%22&source=bl&ots=hj6VPuzx8q&sig=zaJYp1kUnpHy4Moz09-a4yNOpPY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj3w4bwiqHYAhUmxlQKHW9dB_oQ6AEIQjAG#v=onepage&q=%22charlie%20kirk%22%20%22PRospect%20heights%22&f=false|publisher=Simon and Schuster|year=2016|page=4}}</ref> Kirk became politically active during high school. In his junior year of school in 2010, Kirk volunteered for the successful U.S. Senate campaign of Illinois Republican [[Mark Kirk]] (to whom he is not related).<ref name="perfect-storm">{{cite news|title=Perfect storm launches 19-year-old Wheeling native into political punditry|url=http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130429/news/704299942/|work=Daily Herald|date=April 29, 2013}}</ref>

The group's founder in the wake of his assassination his widow [[Erika Kirk]] is the current leader, Charlie Kirk, grew up in [[Prospect Heights, Illinois]].<ref>{{cite book|author=Kirk, Charlie, and Hamachek, Brent|title=Time for a Turning Point: Setting a Course Toward Free Markets and Limited Government for Future Generations|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=838mDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA4&lpg=PA4&dq=%22charlie+kirk%22+%22PRospect+heights%22&source=bl&ots=hj6VPuzx8q&sig=zaJYp1kUnpHy4Moz09-a4yNOpPY&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj3w4bwiqHYAhUmxlQKHW9dB_oQ6AEIQjAG#v=onepage&q=%22charlie%20kirk%22%20%22PRospect%20heights%22&f=false|publisher=Simon and Schuster|year=2016|page=4}}</ref> Kirk became politically active during high school. In his junior year of school in 2010, Kirk volunteered for the successful U.S. Senate campaign of Illinois Republican [[Mark Kirk]] (to whom he is not related).<ref name="perfect-storm">{{cite news|title=Perfect storm launches 19-year-old Wheeling native into political punditry|url=http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130429/news/704299942/|work=Daily Herald|date=April 29, 2013}}</ref>

In 2012 when he was a high school senior, Kirk wrote an essay for ''[[Breitbart News]]'' alleging liberal bias in high school textbooks leading to an appearance on the [[Fox Business Network]]. At a subsequent speaking engagement at [[Benedictine University]]'s "Youth Empowerment Day," Kirk met Bill Montgomery, a retiree more than 50 years his senior, who was then a [[Tea Party movement|Tea Party]]-backed legislative candidate. Montgomery encouraged Kirk to get engaged in political activism full-time. He subsequently founded Turning Point USA. At the [[2012 Republican National Convention]], Kirk met [[Foster Friess]], a prominent Republican donor, and persuaded him to finance the organization.<ref name="atlantic">{{cite news|author=Nelson, Rebecca|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/03/the-21-year-old-becoming-a-major-player-in-conservative-politics/451110/|title=The 21-Year-Old Becoming a Major Player in Conservative Politics|date=March 25, 2015|newspaper=[[The Atlantic Monthly]]}}</ref>

In 2012 when he was a high school senior, Kirk wrote an essay for ''[[Breitbart News]]'' alleging liberal bias in high school textbooks leading to an appearance on the [[Fox Business Network]]. At a subsequent speaking engagement at [[Benedictine University]]'s "Youth Empowerment Day," Kirk met Bill Montgomery, a retiree more than 50 years his senior, who was then a [[Tea Party movement|Tea Party]]-backed legislative candidate. Montgomery encouraged Kirk to get engaged in political activism full-time. He subsequently founded Turning Point USA. At the [[2012 Republican National Convention]], Kirk met [[Foster Friess]], a prominent Republican donor, and persuaded him to finance the organization.<ref name="atlantic">{{cite news|author=Nelson, Rebecca|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/03/the-21-year-old-becoming-a-major-player-in-conservative-politics/451110/|title=The 21-Year-Old Becoming a Major Player in Conservative Politics|date=March 25, 2015|newspaper=[[The Atlantic Monthly]]}}</ref>