Wounded warrior project strikes again.

[blademasterii]

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2013/feb/01/wounded-warriors-rejects-donation-from-children/ This is a story from my local paper.

[frkelly74]

What is the matter with those people???

[btroj]

So a non-partisan group can only accept money from agnostic independents?

I understand their desire to stay non-political and avoid religious affiliation but accepting money from groups with of a political or religious nature doesn't inherently make them political or religious.

I plan to honor their wishes and not taint them with any of my money.

[DCP]

Not a dime not one thin dime

[Blammer]

I emailed WWP to find out first hand. I await a reply.

I will post here their response.

[runfiverun]

maybe they ain't about helping....
you'd think one of their intended should be of that faith.
they [the kids] raised money to help a cause/person then got shunned by the organization [hands up here]
maybe the kids should just find a deserving person and give them the money.
they could then avoid the 90% [or whatever] admin fees.

[shdwlkr]

Man I wished I knew how to start a program for our returning veterans that does accept money from firearms related groups, churches, schools really any legal group.
I would call the group," Finally Home" as that is very hard for many our veterans to feel they have really come home again.
Heck I would even find ways for them to shoot, hunt, fish, you name it if they wanted to do it I would find away some how to get it done for them.
So how do we get this thing off the ground?

Yea I mad as a cornered wolverine on about this slapping so many that want to reach out to our veterans.

[Jim Flinchbaugh]

After this was raised the last time here, I printed out the email volley that was posted and took it to our next gun club meeting.

This is becasue our club gives an annual donation of 500$ to Wounded Warrior Project. It so happened that the local rep for WWP was at the meeting.
Turns out, that the WWP we give money too, is the Montana Wounded Warriers not the national WWP. 100% of the money we gave went to the Montanan WW's, they do not keep
ANY administrative money at all, its all volunteer and all goes to the warriors. SO, Please check out to be sure you are not cutting off a local, separate Wounded Warrier Project, before puling out.
I had no idea there was 2 organizations, the National one is the ripoff. If you have independent local projects it might just be OK as ours was

[L1A1Rocker]

It really looks to me that someone at WW is making a concerted effort to run WW out of business.

[P.K.]

Not going to say much, but offer two alternatives to the national WWP.
This is to house families near their warrior while they are in treatment:
http://www.fisherhouse.org/
The USO because I have used their facilities before and nothings better than a piece of "normal" in a screwed up world.
http://www.uso.org/

[Artful]

talk about getting it wrong.

[popper]

the criticism from people like us must be having an effect as I see lots of high dollar TV adds for the national WWP. They are off my list. Head honchos live in gated communities in Fl & Va.

[TXGunNut]

Sad to see charities taking advantage of charitable people, or in this case shunning them. For some folks it's all about raising money, helping someone is just part of the marketing plan. I only support a charity if I know how much they spend on "overhead". Sometimes the percentage is shocking.

[Bad Water Bill]

The U S O has been there for many many years making life a little easier for many in the military community. Never heard of them begging NOR bragging about what they do. They just go quietly about providing a big meal for Christmas etc in many locations around the world. They had a nice Christmas party for us in 1958 when we were in Barcelona Spain.

I have also read many stories about FISHER HOUSE lately. Has anyone had any dealings with them?

[Bad Water Bill]

Wait till RECLUSE hears about this latest insult.

[wch]

Nothing.
They'll get nothing from me.

[TomBulls]

The Wounded Warrior Project is a public relations machine, taking care of vets is only incidental to their goal which is deflection and disassociation of war from our everyday lives.

The Wounded Warrior Project is about re-focusing the American public's conception of what war is and how to deal with war.

If anybody wants to donate to that program, then knock yourselves out-- but just remember that you are taking part in a public relations campaign which is designed to get congress off the hook for sending the Marines into harms way to get maimed in the first place.

[David2011]

Our local action pistol club voted to send our charity match funds elsewhere this year. The small club has raised and sent $6000 to WWP in the last 2 years without as much as a "Thank You" (not that they were doing it for recognition, but a little good manners never hurts).

David

[xs11jack]

I hope that none of you will stop giving all together, the Fisher House mentioned earlier is a great organization. When I go to Jefferson Barracks here in St. Louis, I see the one just competed recently. It is marvelous, the people who are at JB to heal, heal much faster and better when they are with their families everyday. And the USO is really great, don't forget them either! There is a USO at the St.Louis airport, and they do marvelous things with what they have.
God bless all the givers, God knows who you are, and blessing will flow.
Jack

[crabo]

I never got a response when I sent WWP their donation letter back and told them why I wouldn't send them any more money. I just sent Fisher house the monthly donation that was going to WWP.

[41 mag fan]

I wonder if people like Trace Adkins and Lou Diamond Phillips and Gary Sinise know how the WWP is? I got a lot of respect for these singers and actors for their help with the vets

[cbrick]

Such a noble cause helping our wounded vets. Such a pity WWP is basicly anti American, no religion & no guns.
We can only hope word of this group spreads like wildfire.

It would be interesting to learn what percentage of collected money is spent on our wounded heros and how much is administrative. It would also be interesting to see if they would let that info out. I stopped sending the GOA money when they refused to tell me that. To my way of thinking there is but one reason any charity wouldn't make that info public.

Rick

[snuffy]

According to this website, it looks like they have a little over 50% of the money they collect going to wounded veterans.
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=12842

I signed up to give 19 bucks a month, got what they called a blanket. It's a very thin, small rag, with a very poorly done screen printing with the WWP logo on it.

After the fiasco with Gresham and gun talk, I went about trying to find a way to STOP the automatic withdrawals from my checking account. You have to email them, THEN they reply with a phone number to call to have the withdrawal stopped.

They will get NO more money from me!

[cbrick]

Assuming the 50% is accurate that is actually pretty poor.

I just used that same link to Charity Navigator to see what they had to say about GOA, they aren't even listed, zero info on them. Interesting huh?

The NRA has 4.8% administration costs, very good considering the size of the organization. Wounded Warriors (a much smaller org than the NRA) has administration costs of 8% and annual income of 70,145,724 and that is 5 million 600 thousand going to the top brass & office expenses, not advertising or anything else . . . Administration costs.

Thanks for the link Snuffy,

Rick

[cbrick]

Snuffy, when you make that phone call make very certain to explain to them exactly why you are stopping the payments.

Rick

[Recluse]

It really looks to me that someone at WW is making a concerted effort to run WW out of business.

Actually, the WWP is moving towards a focus primarily on donations from large corporate entities because THOSE givers do zero research or follow-up on where/how their donations are used.

Why? Because the donations are nothing more than a tax-exemption and one helluva PR tool.

When us "little guys and girls" follow up, as Tom Gresham did, as to where and how the money is utilized, frauds like WWP get uncomfortable and have to resort to their high-powered and higher-paid lawyers and public relations specialists to invent solutions for non-existing problems like "partisanship" and "controversy."

In short, the Wounded Warrior Project can kiss my veteran ***. The monthly donations we'd earmarked for them now go elsewhere--to more local charities and ones with little to zero administrative overhead.

I e-mailed the head jackoff at WWP during the Gresham exposure and asked him why the hell he should have a salary and benefits package that DWARFED that of the average USAF or USA major or lieutenant colonel? In terms of budget and manpower (staff) overseen, the two were just about parallel, but the WWP head jackoff makes over 400% of what the parallel military man/woman makes.

Yet, the WWP preys on the sentiments of veterans and those who support vets.

I can't print what I actually think of these skunks.

:coffee:

[Bad Water Bill]

Come on Recluse, tell us how you REALLY feel.:)

[cbrick]

If enough people would do a little research on who is asking them for money these scam artists would be run out or at the least be far less successful at fleecing people.

Rick

[km101]

Looks like the WWP has stepped on their d*** again. Maybe with a golf shoe this time. They seem to be better at alienating donors than they are at attracting them! At the rate they are pissing people off, they will be out of business soon. Maybe then the money will go to more worthy organizations serving the same cause. We can only hope.

[RoyEllis]

Yet, the WWP preys on the sentiments of veterans and those who support vets.
I can't print what I actually think of these skunks.
:coffee:

I'm right there with ya brother! If I vented my true feelings toward them I'd probably get banned not only here but from places I haven't even been to yet.

[ffg]

Isn't this a lot to do with the IRS rules for a non taxable organization ?
Maybe yes or no , or is it a rule that WWP came up with .

[Cactus Farmer]

My letter to WWP......

Sirs;

You won't take a donation from a christian school because your "non religious"?
Are you that crazy/stupid/insane/politically correct? Please feel free to choose the one that fits best.

I,too, am a vet. I came home to name calling and spit. I also came home whole in body.
In my head not so much. I support all my brothers and want to do more. That said I am religious and damn
opinionated. I do not like the CIC. He is a socialist and is intent on destroying this country from within.
I vote and I vote with my money too. You must explain yourselves or you will loose your donors. You are
losing me as of now. Care to explain and try to get my support back?

Balls in your court..........

Lewis Wright, USAF 1968-72

[captaint]

I'm done with the WWP. Completely.. Done.. Mike

[snuffy]

I just called to cancel my $19.00 donation to them. She didn't ask why, but I said don't you want to know? She said sure, she would listen. I said it's a combination of the refusal to go on Gun Talk with Tom Gresham, and the recent refusal to accept the christian school donation.

She said it wasn't a refusal, but a clarification of their policy about sponsoring an "event" I guess you can donate any amount of money, just don't call it a "wounded warrior event"! To the point, they stepped in IT! yet again!

[Blammer]

as stated earlier I emailed them: here is the reply and in typical email fashion my question is below

Dear Darrell,

Wounded Warrior Project has always welcomed religious fundraisers and donations from religious organizations. We happily accept support from many diverse groups to honor and empower Wounded Warriors.

We did turn down this potential fundraiser because it did not fit several of our giving guidelines for community events. Unfortunately, we mistakenly communicated to the church that the event was turned down because we do not accept donations from religious groups, which is not the case. We work with many diverse groups to honor and empower Wounded Warriors including religious groups. We have called the church to apologize for any confusion.

Kind Regards,
giving outreach team

F: 904.296.7347

Wounded Warrior Project
4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300
Jacksonville, Florida 32256

Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
woundedwarriorproject.org

From: Darrell
Sent: Saturday, February 02, 2013 9:32 AM
To: Giving Outreach Team
Subject: donations

Is it true that you do not accept donations from religious organizations?

Sincerely
Darrell Steenwyk

[429421Cowboy]

Wow, that is just downright asinine. I have been shocked to find out how little of our money actually goes towards helping people when we give to national charities like WWP when i have been researching a charity for a school fundraiser. Better to keep your money local than give it nationally to somebody that is profiting off the guise if helping vets. I wonder how many if any, of their top execs are actually vets? After what our country has put our returning vets though in the last century, only to now finally begin to realise it, they deserve far better than this. I am telling my two USAF retired brothers about this scam and hope they pass it on to other vets.

[Adam10mm]

I'd like to start a Hurt Heros Project or Harmed Heros Project. You donate money, we help veterans. I don't care where the money comes from or who it comes from. One rule: the money was obtained/earned legally.

None of this pick and choose nonsense. What is more appalling is that the veterans aren't getting the help they are entitled to from the government (save me the semantics and BS, you know what I mean). Part of the defense budget should be allocated to assisting veterans back into civilian life especially combat veterans and dealing with mental health and physical health issues.

[Blammer]

I personally know a vet and if he needs any help I'll offer, so my donation 'quota' is filled when anyone calls asking for some.

[chrisw]

In Virginia, the Wounded Warriors is government sponsored and is a quasi-government agency. They are paid out of the commonwealth's budget to provide services to ALL VA claims. I was referred to one of their people after I was accepted into the program. He was rude, refusing to help, and when I asked who should help he said to call Senator Warner's office. I received an apology, but was told that since this representative is a state employee working for the wounded warrior program that their hands where tied- even if his job description said that he was the one to help me, if he refused to help, there was nothing his wounded warrior paid boss could do since the jerk isn't a wounded warrior paid but state employee working for the wounded warrior organization.

I filed my claim in January 2009 and still haven't had a hearing. They say that I don't have a spinal cord/brain injury even after surgery.

needless to say, this program does some good, heck, they will pay for me to go to counseling at the health center and they have some great people BUT they are so screwed up that they have some of the worse people too.

I think the attempt at the public/private relationship here in VA has failed terribly.

in addition, I think the problems caused by the VA might hurt me worse than my disability myself. The psychological trauma I go through constantly because of the fight to just get what I've earned, that I deserve, and the treatment by people paid TO HELP me, causes so much stress, high BP, anger, depression, etc its 10 times worse than just being a gimp.

I know one guy who tried to get committed 3 times and each time was told that it really isn't a psychological problem that can be fixed but a medical and bureaucratic problem that must be resolved even though he gave up on life. He wouldn't have wanted to kill himself besides the VA not doing their job and the wounded warrior program making it worse.

[x101airborne]

Down here, we have a Wounded Worriors Weekend. It is put on by the City Councils and various charitable organizations from many different cities. There is an open fishing weekend, a BBQ contest, hunting opportunities on MANY different private ranches and all one has to do to get on is be a wounded worrior and sign up. The vets get a police escort of about 20 police and highway patrol vehicles, Greyhound supplies the busses for free, our National Guard does HUMVEE and APC escorts and rides. Lots of Deuce and a halves, 5 tons, LMT's, HMMTS, etc. The Coast Guard gets the old PT boats out just for this and takes people fishing. Lots of private guides and expert fishermen donate their boats and time. Even our local grocery chain (HEB) donates about an 18 wheeler of water, soda, beer, food, chips, shrimp, coolers, allergy medicine, chicken, whatever and it is all free. Some private ranches auction off Gemsbock, Bleesbock, Redbuck, Oudad, Fallow, Hog, etc. hunts on private ranches and usually, they are purchased by businesses and GIVEN to Veterans to hunt with their families. The business owners that pay for the hunts usually dont even go. And the taxidermy is included. I have even worked a shrimp boat under special license from the State just for the project pulling in over 3000 pounds of gulf shrimp just for the event. All I got to do is the heading and peeling, but hey, I helped.

That is our program. And we PRAY every morning and before every meal. Check it out... It is in Port O'Connor, Tx. every spring. I dont know what those National guys are doing, but I just love our program. I always wear my desert boonie when I am down there helping and it is nice to talk to those guys. And to their families. Watching a now handicapped person fishing with their kids and families and having a good time is priceless. Even the ones that just want to go to the beach and cook hotdogs on a fire while the kids play have a great time. And we pretty much do anything they want within reason.