Wounded Veterans' Groups Wage War

[douglas9]

INDIANAPOLIS (CN) - The Wounded Warrior Project claims an Indiana veterans charity defamed it and criminally deceived donors by calling it a "fraud" and a "cash cow," and telling people to send their money elsewhere if they want it to reach veterans.
The Wounded Warrior Project sued Help Indiana Vets Inc., and its founder Dean Graham, both of Acton, Ind., in Federal Court.
The Wounded Warrior Project, founded in 2003, describes itself as a nonprofit that offers tens of thousands of injured veterans free services, including counseling, physical rehabilitation, vocational training, and camaraderie through discounted events and an online community.
"WWP does not charge any membership dues for its programs and services because WWP believes the alumni paid their dues on the battlefield. In fiscal year 2013 alone, WWP served more than 30,000 injured service members and their family members through its various programs and services," the complaint states.
The Wounded Warrior Project has received extensive media coverage and corporate support, leading the 8th Circuit to write in an unrelated opinion that Wounded Warrior Project has "become synonymous with veteran service to this generation of wounded veterans and their families," according to the 31-page complaint.

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Wounded Warrior's tax return for 2011 indicates that the nonprofit's total administrative expenses accounted for $95.5 million of the year's $154.9 million net revenue, or 61 percent.
"Everyone assumes that because of the name 'WWP' the money is going to help the veterans, but it's not," Graham said. "I've talked to hundreds of veterans, at least half of whom had tried WWP at one time or another, ones who called us directly for aid. We doled out over $27,000 of our own money helping the Indiana veterans."
Charity Watch gives Wounded Warrior a C+ grade, based on its expenses, though WWP met all 20 of the Better Business Bureau's standards for charity accountability.


http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/11/26/63232.htm

[shedevil69taz]

1. Yeah there are way better groups to invest your time, and money in

if you want to help Veterans. We work with a group that bought up two large houses in southern PA, and turned them into basically all veteran homeless shelters.

[unhappycamper]

2. A question: Why doesn't the organization that creates Wounded Warriors

support Wounded Warriors?

Prior to volunteering these men and women had all their legs, all their arms and most importantly, all their dreams intact. An IED, a mortar round or a sniper's bullet changed all that. Combat does that also.

So again I ask my question: Why doesn't the organization that creates Wounded Warriors support Wounded Warriors? Why must charities take care of Wounded Warriors?

In spite of the above sentiment I am all for supporting Wounded Warriors; I just think the burden should fall elsewhere.