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Thought you might be interested in this; Dan

I’ve often wondered about this organization with it’s prime time ads on Fox News channel. Apparently, of the $19 a month they’re asking you to donate, only 66 cents reaches a wounded veteran. I only support charities with low overhead such as the Salvation Army. I’ve researched charities using other websites but guidestar.org may be easier to use.

WE ALL HAVE HEARD ABOUT CHARITIES WHICH MAKE THEMSELVES RICH BEFORE HELPING WHATEVER THEIR CHARTER DICTATES, WELL IT APPEARS THAT HERE IS ANOTHER ONE!!

This is a bloody disgrace.

This comes from *Guidestar (http://www.guidestar.org/) * which is a great source for information. The Form 990 filed annually by not-for-profits shows where the money goes, and the Form 990 is available from Guidestar; its free

Wounded Warrior Project, Inc. Review

Wounded Warrior Project, Inc. (WWP) is a registered non-profit organization whose mission is to support and honor veterans. This they accomplish per their website by

  • Raising awareness and enlist the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members
  • Helping injured service members aid and assist each other
  • Providing unique, direct programs and services to meet the needs of injured service members

BBB accredited charity and a listed recipient of Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) donations. In FY 2012 reported an income of $154,958,901. A review of their expenses as noted in their 2012 IRS 990 tax return required of non-profits reflects $4,657,084 in Grants to organizations and $871,194 in Grants to individuals. This equates to about 3.5% of total income being expended in directly helping wounded warriors or (through grants) other organizations with similar goals.

The following appears to be their overhead expenses for 2012:

Compensation,

Officers, Directors & Trustees

$1,057,997
Other wages $15,415,666
Pension Plan $340,650
Employee Benefits $2,266,457
Payroll Taxes $1,594,740
Legal $499,509
Accounting $131,746
Professional Fund Raising $1,901,169
Advertising & Promotions $146,299
Office Expenses $12,451,303
IT $254,319
Occupancy (rent) $2,490,195
Travel $4,085,509
Depreciation $1,572,823
Insurance $215,654
Outside Services $20,915,404
Meetings and events $9,637,863
Direct Response Service $6,930,429
Promotional Items $4,055,567
All other expenses $3,659,493
Joint Costs (Expense from educational campaign and fund raising solicitation.) $25,576,675
Overhead Expenses $115,199,467.00

The above data was sourced from * .* They are a leading source of nonprofit information whose mission is to revolutionize philanthropy by providing information that advances transparency, enables users to make better decisions, and encourages charitable giving. Guidestar is not a charity evaluator or watchdog. They are a 501(c)(3) public charity that collects, organizes, and presents the information in an easy-to-understand format while remaining neutral. An example of this is showing how one charity compares with similar charities (Top Score is 80.0) doing the same type of work as noted below:

Charity Score Rating
Wounded Warrior Project – FL 54.39 «««
USO of Illinois – IL 58.16 «««
DAV Service Trust – KY 55.36 «««
Hope For The Warriors® – NC 65.58 ««««
Navy SEAL Foundation – VA 68.76 ««««

See:

* * for more data on WWP. Readers are encouraged to use such sources in determining how their donations will be spent before making them.

Wounded Warriors Project A Legal Scam

by Alex Graham

Wounded Vets are big money… Just when we thought it was safe to come out of the woods after the last news of the * Big Six * VSOs padding their bank accounts on the backs of all our disabled, along comes this article and investigation revealing nothing is sacred among thieves.

Sad to say, the Wounded Warrior Project is bled dry by a top heavy, greedy executive structure and the remaining funds are disbursed to multi-tier distribution organizations with similar management structures. By the time the money actually goes to direct benefits for veterans, there is probably less than 10% that reaches them.

Below are results of an investigation by a retired USMC Colonel:

· Compensation for the top ten WWP employees runs from $150K to $333K per officer annually.

· WWP was the center of controversy involving their anti-Second Amendment position…

9 November, 2012 16:34


Here is a more comprehensive list of Veterans day giveaways.

http://blog.couponsherpa.com/48-veterans-day-freebies/


Here is a more comprehensive list of Veterans day giveaways.

http://blog.couponsherpa.com/48-veterans-day-freebies/


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov. 5, 2012
CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews

FLORIDA PARK SERVICE HONORS VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES
~Free entry for everyone to Florida’s state parks on Sunday, Nov. 11 in honor of Veterans Day~

A part of the park system since 1935, Fort Clinch is one of the most well-preserved 19th century forts in the country. Although no battles were fought here, it was garrisoned during both the Civil and Spanish-American wars.

TALLAHASSEE – In honor of our nation’s veterans and active military personnel, day-use entry will be free to everyone at Florida’s state parks* on Veterans Day, Sunday, Nov. 11. Pick your favorite outdoor activity – hiking, bicycling, bird watching or looking for shells on the beach – and enjoy a day at a state park.
“The Florida Park Service supports veterans, current military personnel and their families and honors the sacrifices of members of the armed forces,” said Florida Park Service Director Donald V. Forgione. “We encourage Florida’s citizens and visitors to enjoy our state’s natural and cultural resources while honoring our dedicated service men and women.”
If you are in the Apalachicola area, be sure to visit the Three Soldiers Detail statue at Orman House Historic State Park. This one-of-a-kind bronze sculpture was made from the original mold of the Three Servicemen Statue that is part of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C.
If you are near Jacksonville, be sure to visit Fort Clinch State Park for the History of the American Soldier event saluting our Armed Forces on Saturday, Nov. 10 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Living historians from each major U.S. military conflict will share information along with military history displays from the Revolutionary War to present day. Period music and firing demonstrations will highlight the experience. Visitors may purchase refreshments from the Fort Clinch Canteen. Entrance is $6 per vehicle, up to eight people. Fort admission is one canned food item per person, which will be donated to the Barnabas Food Pantry. Veterans and active duty military are invited to come dressed in uniform.
Florida’s state parks offer free or discounted Annual Entrance Passes to those who currently serve or have served in the U.S. military branches, veterans with service-related disabilities and surviving spouses of members of the U.S. military who have fallen in combat. The discounted or free Florida State Parks Annual Entrance Pass is available at any Florida State Park staffed ranger station.
*Free entry to any Florida state park except Skyway Fishing Pier State Park.

Happiness is?


Happiness is the only purpose of life. We are here to find the true value, dignity and respect of life. We are here to rebuild the connection between our personal “heaven and earth.” We are here to balance and harmonize everyday life. Everyone has free access to the gateway to return home. The access to this gateway begins with learning to enjoy life—today and at this very moment. ~Yun Xiang Tseng

Adopted Son!


What a great gift to have an adopted son. He’s a dreamer of big dreams I must keep him focused on just one or two. He has some wonderful ideas but he needs to follow them thru to the end. I have faith in him! He is everything a father could ask for. I hope he keeps on dreaming the big dreams.


A cancer patient only has one wish, to kick cancer’s butt. I know that 97% of you won’t post this as your status, but my friends will be the 3% that do. In honor of someone who died, is fighting cancer, or beat cancer(!!) post this for at least one hour.


Frank Buckles the last surviving World War I vet turned 110 today and is still lobbying for Veterans issues.  Happy Birthday CPL Buckles.

www.youtube.com

America’s last surviving World War I veteran celebrates his 110th birthday.

Here’s a story worth reading. This is wonderful and a good reminder to always be kind because everyone has something going on in their lives at some point that we’re not of.

The Cab Ride!

I arrived at the address and honked the horn. After waiting a few minutes I walked to the door and knocked. ‘Just a minute’, answered a frail, elderly voice. I could hear something being dragged across the floor.

After a long pause, the door opened. A small woman in her 90’s stood before me. She was wearing a print dress and a pillbox hat with a veil pinned on it, like somebody out of a 1940’s movie. By her side was a small nylon suitcase. The apartment looked as if no one had lived in it for years. All the furniture was covered with sheets. There were no clocks on the walls, any knickknacks or utensils on the counters. In the corner was a cardboard box filled with photos and glassware.

Would you carry my bag out to the car? she said. I took the suitcase to the cab and then returned to assist the woman. She took my arm and we walked slowly toward the curb. She kept thanking me for my kindness. It’s nothing, I told her. I just try to treat my passengers the way I would want my mother to be treated.

Oh, you’re such a good boy, she said. When we got in the cab, she gave me an address and then asked, Could you drive through downtown? It’s not the shortest way, I answered quickly. Oh, I don’t mind, she said. I’m in no hurry. I’m on my way to a hospice. I looked in the rear-view mirror. Her eyes were glistening. I don’t have any family left, she continued in a soft voice. The doctor says I don’t have very long. I quietly reached over and shut off the meter. That route would you like me to take? I asked. For the next two hours, we drove through the city. She showed me the building where she had once worked as an elevator operator. We drove through the neighborhood where she and her husband had lived when they were newlyweds she had me pull up in front of a furniture warehouse that had once been a ballroom where she had gone dancing as a girl.

Sometimes she’d ask me to slow in front of a particular building or corner and would sit staring into the darkness, saying nothing. As the first hint of sun was creasing the horizon, she suddenly said, I’m tired. Let’s go  now.

We drove in silence to the address she had given me. It was a low building, like a small convalescent home, with a driveway that passed under a portico.

Two orderlies came out to the cab as soon as we pulled up. They
were solicitous and intent, watching her every move. They must have been
expecting her. I opened the trunk and took the small suitcase to the door. The
woman was already seated in a wheelchair. How much do I owe you? She asked,
reaching into her purse. Nothing, I said you have to make a living, she answered. There are other passengers, I responded. Almost without thinking, I bent and gave her a hug. She held onto me tightly. You gave an old woman a little moment of joy, she said. Thank you. I squeezed her hand, and then walked into the dim morning light. Behind me, a door shut. It was the sound of the closing of a life.

I didn’t pick up any more passengers that shift. I drove aimlessly lost in thought. For the rest of that day, I could hardly talk. What if that woman had gotten an angry driver, or one who was impatient to end his shift? What if I had refused to take the run, or had honked once, then driven away?

On a quick review, I don’t think that I have done anything more important in my life. We’re conditioned to think that our lives revolve around great moments. But great moments often catch us unaware-beautifully wrapped in what others may consider a small one.

PEOPLE MAY NOT REMEMBER EXACTLY WHAT YOU DID, OR WHAT YOU SAID~BUT~THEY WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW YOU MADE THEM FEEL.

Life may not be the party we hoped for, but while we are here we
might as well dance.


Have tou ever had a close call in a car, airplane, just walking or climbing a mountain? Really think about it most everyone has sometime in their life has cheated death. Some say it just wasn’t my time or damn I was lucky? So how and when did you cheat death?