Wounded Warrior Project accused of wasting donation money
Last edited Wed Jan 27, 2016, 02:18 AM - Edit history (1)
Source: CBS News
The charity for wounded veterans, the Wounded Warrior Project, is facing accusations of using donor money toward excessive spending on conferences and parties instead of on recovery programs, according to a CBS News report.
Army Staff Sergeant Erick Millette, who returned from Iraq in 2006 with a bronze star and a purple heart, told CBS News he admired the charitys work and took a job with the group in 2014 but quit after two years.
"Their mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors, but what the public doesn't see is how they spend their money," he told CBS News.
Millette said he witnessed lavish spending on staff, with big catered parties.
"Going to a nice fancy restaurant is not team building. Staying at a lavish hotel at the beach here in Jacksonville, and requiring staff that lives in the area to stay at the hotel is not team building," he told CBS News.
According to the charity's tax forms obtained by CBS News, spending on conferences and meetings went from $1.7 million in 2010, to $26 million in 2014, which is the same amount the group spends on combat stress recovery.
Two former of employees, who were so fearful of retaliation they asked that CBS News not show their faces on camera, said spending has skyrocketed since Steven Nardizzi took over as CEO in 2009, pointing to the 2014 annual meeting at a luxury resort in Colorado Springs.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2016/01/26/wounded-warrior-project-reportedly-accused-wasting-donor-money.html
Manifestor_of_Light
(21,046 posts)WHY ISN'T THE GOVERNMENT TAKING CARE OF THESE VETERANS?
Marie Marie
(9,999 posts)niyad
(113,229 posts)ErikJ
(6,335 posts)"America dont need no gubmint handouts. Leave it to charity"
The WWP probably lobbies Republicans to vote against all vet benefit bills. Probably why they voted down 10 vet bills in the last 6 yyrs.
Manifestor_of_Light
(21,046 posts)They think private charity has all these specialised people with specialized training to deal with all problems of people that need health care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, mental health care, etc.
Private charity does not.
Deuce
(959 posts)forest444
(5,902 posts)You know, now that you mention this (which should be a surprise, but unfortunately isn't anymore), I'd bet that if some good investigative journalist were to look into it, they'd find those blankets are being sold to WWP by some friend or relative of Nardizzi's - and that WWP is paying an obscene amount of money for them.
Kudos for posting this. They're as craven as the war itself.
tom_kelly
(957 posts)Too many commercials asking for $19 a month - just like the other scams out there. A shame.
valerief
(53,235 posts)forest444
(5,902 posts)It is their way.
shadowmayor
(1,325 posts)Hannity's charity? Things were AFU last I heard but I haven't heard bleep in a couple of years.
tabasco
(22,974 posts)niyad
(113,229 posts)and almost nobody was discussing the fact that, even needing these organizations is a national disgrace.
catchnrelease
(1,945 posts)He is a disabled veteran (Vietnam) and volunteers with a group called Project Healing Waters. They teach disabled vets how to fly fish, tie flies, build fly rods and take them on fishing trips. There are groups all over the country doing this and all of the people involved are volunteers except 4 that are paid. He says that 89 cents out of every dollar goes to the vets.
In the past he has said that he didn't trust the WWP group, that while they do help veterans, he had heard that they spend a lot of their money on just what this story exposes. I had kind of chalked it up to 'charity rivalry' but I guess he's vindicated now!
mopinko
(70,071 posts)i have been trying to get in touch w someone from healing waters. i have some rooster pelts that i would like to donate.
ask hubby if they are interested, and pm me if they are.
FairWinds
(1,717 posts)is not amused.
This is war profiteering at the back end.
mostlyalurker
(37 posts)and I always thought this "charity" seemed like a scam. The DAV (Disabled American Veterans) was there for me when I got out and has been an amazing resource ever since. There are plenty of established organizations for veterans. This one wasn't needed and I'm not surprised it wastes the money.
tazkcmo
(7,300 posts)Darn tootin'! I frequented the DAV second hand stores when I lived in KC because of their operational ethics. A little research before giving goes a long way.
moondust
(19,972 posts)Instead of attending the Republican debate Thursday night, Trump said he would probably hold a charity event to raise money for veterans and the Wounded Warrior Project.
closeupready
(29,503 posts)Trace Adkins, I think.
Just awful. I've been telling folks this for years. My Dad was about to donate to them (3 out of 6 of his children and him are veterans) but I educated him. He was pissed.
hexola
(4,835 posts)Trump took the bait from FOX...fucking sucker!!!
Watch Freeper heads explode...
http://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3389254/posts
What a pandering fool!!! Becoming clear Trump is surrounded by idiot "yes men" who arent doing any research...
Articles about WW corruption go back to early Spring 2015...
LOSER!
Vinca
(50,255 posts)I'm not surprised by this report.