wounded warrior scandal new york times
After Vietnam, many focused on advocacy in Washington. Do the sources know the information? About 40 percent of the organizations donations in 2014 were spent on its overhead, or about $124 million, according to the charity-rating group Charity Navigator. Why do the misdeeds of one nonprofit cause mistrust of all nonprofits? "We have 55 peer support groups across the country that meet regularly," he said. Millette, the former WWP staff member who publicly blew the whistle on the organization, said his decision to speak out came at great personal cost. Mr. Longoria said after he was fired, he fell into depression but was also relieved. WWP offers wounded warriors and their families lifesaving programs that help them manage PTSD, traumatic brain injury (TBI), combat stress, and other conditions and help them thrive in their next mission. While WWP's portrayal of veterans has never stripped them of their dignity, some ad campaigns in the early 2010s emphasized images of wounded warriors in the context of caregivers and included interviews with vets discussing daily struggles and needs that went unmet. Jesse Longoria, a former Marine sniper whose right arm was amputated in 2012 after complications from injuries sustained in Iraq, with his 16-month-old son, Noah. But Mr. Melias ex-wife, Julie Melia, who worked at the charity at the time, said in an interview that her former husband felt like the organization was stolen from him.. Citing whistleblowers, stories by CBS and The New York Times detailed allegations of waste and abuse, lavish all-hands conferences and unbridled spending on ticketed outings that did little lasting good for the veterans they purported to help. The charity grew to offer more services in more locations, but in the process, former employees said, it became wasteful, spending millions on travel, food, drinks and team-building trips for staff members. "These are groups that just get together over a pizza and a soda, to talk about the issues that are affecting them and their families, and look for ways to support each other.". In fiscal year 2013, the Wounded Warriors Foundation took in $234 million in donations and dedicated 80 percent of that amount to programs for wounded veterans, according to tax records. 6. The Wounded Warrior Project - Spending Too Much on CEO Compensation Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Both ad campaigns depict a real part of the wounded veteran experience, and WWP staff acknowledge that donors respond more to portrayals of those with the greatest need. "We wrap our arms around those that want to help veterans now, versus looking to protect our brand at every inch and ounce of measure," he said. The groups founder, a wounded Marine named John Melia, announced late Friday that he was interested in returning to the organization, which he left in 2009 after a dispute with Mr. Nardizzi and Mr. Giordano. This year, WWP surpassed the 100,000 mark in terms of veterans they provide assistance to. 1 witness for the wounded was Staff Sgt. By Lindsey Ellefson Jan 27th, 2016, 9:00 pm. Why don't you offer services to ALL veterans? Army Staff Sergeant Erick Millette, who returned from Iraq in 2006 with a bronze star and a purple heart, told CBS News at the time he admired the charitys work and took a job with the group in 2014 but quit after two years. Retro Report has a staff of 13 journalists and 10 contributors led by Kyra Darnton, a former 60 Minutes producer. January 27, 2016 / 8:32 PM / CBS News. The eRumor's claim that the organization spends just 3.5% of its total income on grants for individuals and veteran organizations is . I'm optimistic that the organization's leadership will continue to improve the organization, which will help to serve the military men and women who have served us.". "So the needs of our population when that average was 27 years old is different than it is at 38, and it will be different when it's 48.". "If you look at our 990 [annual IRS financial filing], we went from $380 million a year to $200 million. "I was always grateful for that mission," Linnington said. "The warriors that joined Wounded Warrior Project, you know, in 2003 are today 15 years older than they were when they joined. Mr. Giordano tried to refute the news media accounts, Mr. Kane said, and explained that the executives silence had been recommended by a public relations firm as a way to defuse criticism. Whats their motivation for telling us? A spokeswoman for the charity said it fired those people because of poor performance or ethical breaches, and that each of them was given the opportunity to address their work problems. This weeks Retro Report is the 13th in a documentary series. Mr. Nardizzi said in an interview that Mr. Melia left to pursue business ventures. His report slammed the organization for not being transparent with donors about tens of millions that had been placed in reserve and not spent; and for "excessive" amounts of money spent on travel, fundraising and staff activities. They just took me to a Red Sox game and on a weekend retreat.. "They were using the smallest percentage of wounded veterans to suck money out of hard-working Americans," he said. First: donations to Wounded Warriors fell by $70 million from 2015 to 2016. Wounded Warrior Project executives fired amid controversy Wounded Warrior Project Spends Lavishly on Itself, Insiders Say Look at how they're focused on the real, important issues that have to do with veterans, and go from there.". Wounded Warrior Project: Is it a Scam? - US Patriot Blog Mr. Nardizzi and Mr. Giordano did not return repeated calls to their cellphones. It seemed to me like it was a big lie., Wounded Warrior Project Spends Lavishly on Itself, Insiders Say, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/28/us/wounded-warrior-project-spends-lavishly-on-itself-ex-employees-say.html, William Chick, who was fired from the Wounded Warrior Project in 2012 after a dispute with his supervisor. In early 2016, New York Times Reporter Dave Philipps was working on a story about the Wounded Warrior Project which seemed like it would initially be a public interest piece discussing the work of this popular charity. Well, they didnt. By 2009, the group had grown to about 50 employees and $21 million in revenue. Charity Navigator - Rating for Wounded Warrior Project This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Veterans organizations in the United States often reflect the era in which they were created: After World War I, they resembled fraternal orders. On the opening night, before three days of strategy sessions and team-building field trips, the staff gathered in the hotel courtyard. Like Charity Navigator, Charity Watch is critical of WWP's fundraising efficiency, which it considers to be on the low end of acceptable. They began raising millions of dollars and broadening their services to include adaptive sports for disabled veterans, employment and benefits help, and retreats to teach veterans to cope with post-traumatic stress disorder. Mr. Kane said the leaders failure to take responsibility shows a total lack of regard for the mission, the alumni, the employees, proud supporter organizations and the thousands of other individual and corporate donors. He canceled his own contributions and encouraged others to do the same. The story broke in The Washington Post in the winter of 2007, with a series about Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Kules added the charity did not spend $3 million on the Colorado conference, but he was not there and was unable to say what it did cost. 4. Market data provided by Factset. The veterans charity group fired CEO Steven Nardizzi and COO Al Giordano late last week, following a January . Trace Adkins talks about his support of U.S. veterans through the Wounded Warrior Project in Rolling Stone's third Salute to . During WWP's nadir and through its turnaround, its roster of wounded warriors and "family support members" has only grown -- a fact that speaks as much to the persistent and growing need as it does to the organization's success in the space. The charity came under fire after an earlier CBS News investigation in January revealed large amounts of spending on administration, meetings, and travel. A nger and dismay greeted the announcement last week that the Wounded Warrior Project, a nonprofit that helps wounded veterans, had fired its top staff. In 2007, the scandalous treatment of wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center shocked the nation. 2. Mr. Melia could not be reached, but Julie Melia, his former wife, said, He feels he can help get it back in the good direction.. As commanding general of the Military District of Washington and commander of Joint Force Headquarters-National Capital Region, a position he held from 2011 to 2013, he said he welcomed many arriving C-17 Globemasters transporting wounded veterans back to the United States from Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. Each of us can make a difference by becoming a more effective donor. Wounded Warrior Project Frequently Asked Questions | WWP He has never spoken publicly about his disagreements with Mr. Nardizzi, and declined to be interviewed. True Royal 80/20 Poly/Cotton Left Chest/Sleeve Design Screenprint. Wounded Warrior Project is under fire for its spending unlike these Wounded Warrior Project says 80% of their money is spent on programs for veterans. Major donor calls for ouster of Wounded Warrior Project executive In the wake of what organization insiders call "the 2016 event," WWP has cut significantly back on all-staff outings; moved away from pricey ticketed events in favor of addressing complex quality-of-life issues for veterans; made efforts to be more collaborative in the veterans' organization community; and even tweaked its advertising strategy to tell a more positive story about veterans, an effort WWP says is calculated not to bring in the most advertising dollars, but to do the most good for the community. Current price: $30.00. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. In 2014 alone, the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) received more than $300 million in donations, yet it only spent roughly 60 percent of that on vets, CBS News reported. L.A. County Sheriff: 30% of workforce "unavailable". One significant ongoing organizational investment has provided for a two-week intensive post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury outpatient program at four hospitals: Massachusetts General Hospital, Emory University Hospital, Rush University Medical Center and Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. Ive gone to all of my appointments. John Melia, founder of the Wounded Warrior Project, addressing the Wounded and Injured Veterans Summit in Auburn, Ala., in 2006. Part of the organizations drive for growth has been a tough stance toward workers considered unproductive or disloyal. Wounded Warrior Project declined CBS News' interview requests for Nardizzi in January, but instead sent Director of Alumni and a recipient of their services, Captain Ryan Kules, who denied there was excessive spending on conferences. John Melia founded the Wounded Warrior Project in 2003 but left in 2009. The group, based in Jacksonville, Fla., has been challenged over how it spends more than $800 million raised in donations over the past four years. The reporter and at least one editor know the identity of the source. When was Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) founded? President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. condemned the mid-morning attack. All Rights Reserved. The spending began to attract attention. saved my life, he said. 'Doonesbury's' Trudeau on timely Wounded Warrior Project scandal strip Within months, Wounded Warrior Project's two top executives -- CEO Steve Nardizzi and COO Al Giordano -- had been fired, and the organization itself was the subject of a congressional inquiry. Anyone can read what you share. Legal Statement. Sept. 30, 2013 As this week's Retro Report video explains, the biggest scandal in recent times involving the care of wounded American troops was actually worsened because medicine on the. In an interview at the organizations four-story headquarters in a palm-lined office park in Jacksonville, Fla., Mr. Nardizzi, 45, said spending on fund-raising and other expenses not directly related to veterans programs has enabled the Wounded Warrior Project to grow faster and serve more people. Top Wounded Warriors execs ousted after probe - USA TODAY just hours before the New York Times ran a story about the . Legal Statement. That year, he doubled the spending on fund-raising and started running television ads imploring viewers to send in donations. According to Charity Watch, the Wounded Warrior Project is, in fact, rated C. To stop donating to it is a response that makes sense. You do not reflect the sentiments of the more than 80,000 wounded soldiers we have helped, focusing instead on a few malcontents. But it added that such events would be curtailed in the future.. "We focus our advertising campaign on warriors that have succeeded. Dan Shannon of the Army, a father of three, who had served in Iraq, and, on Nov. 13, 2004, took a direct hit from an AK-47. As the group grew, it expanded its programs and brought on Mr. Nardizzi, a lawyer who had never served in the military, and his longtime friend, Mr. Giordano. After Mr. Kanes email to other donors, he said he got a call from Mr. Giordano. Several Effective Altruist organizations, including The Life You Can Save and GiveWell, provide information to donors about the impact of various charities addressing global poverty. Linnington, who retired from the Army in 2015 and served as the first permanent director of the Pentagon's Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency before taking the helm at Wounded Warrior Project, said he made the move over to the organization because of the positive impression it had made on him while he was still on active duty. Anyone can read what you share. He changes his habits and routine around Jacksonville, Florida, he said, to avoid running into former organization co-workers. It is perfectly reasonable to hold Wounded Warrior or any other organization nonprofit, for-profit or governmental accountable for lavish spending or gaming its own metrics. See the metrics below for more information. Millette also marvels at the way the organization has overhauled itself and rebuilt, even as many predicted that it would crumble under the pressure. Wounded Warrior Project Fires Top 2 Executives After Reports Of Another time a woman called to donate part of her sons life insurance after he was killed in Afghanistan, he said. Money poured in. This beacon provides an assessment of a charity's financial health (financial efficiency, sustainability, and trustworthiness) and its commitment to governance practices and policies. But by then, Mr. Melia and Mr. Nardizzi were fighting over the charitys future, with Mr. Nardizzi pushing for more aggressive expansion than Mr. Melia, former employees said. All rights reserved. On Tuesday, CBS News ran a story about the Wounded Warrior Project, claiming to have interviewed over 40 former employees who stated that spending was out of control at the organization. -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Lavish Spending by the Wounded Warrior Project, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/30/opinion/lavish-spending-by-the-wounded-warrior-project.html, Jennifer Brown/Northjersey.com, via Associated Press, Helping Veterans Recover, Spending Lavishly on Itself. The two top executives of the Wounded Warrior Project among the largest veterans charities in the country were fired Thursday after an investigation into accusations of lavish spending on parties, hotel and travel, according to a statement released on behalf of the embattled organization. Since its inception, the organization became the #1 veterans charity in the world. The saddest part is that it endeavors to hurt an organization that does so much to help our wounded soldiers. Wounded Warrior Project Survey Shows 6 in 10 Wounded Veterans Are Struggling to Make Ends Meet. That's a pretty significant drop in a short period of time," he said. " A major donor to the Wounded Warrior Project veterans' charity called Thursday for the nonprofit's CEO's to resign in light of allegations of lavish spending on staff meetings, according to . Her termination was so abrupt that her work phone and credit card were shut off while she was leading an event. Mr. Odierno, who is the son of Gen. Raymond Odierno, a former chief of staff of the Army, became the groups interim chief executive Thursday evening and is conducting a nationwide search for a new leader. Show your support for Wounded Warrior Project with this tee! See a recent article in the New York Times and a blog post from GuideStar CEO Jacob Herald. I loved it, the former Marine sniper said. Mar 10, 2016 Wounded Warrior Project executives fired in spending scandal. Breaking down the group's finances, Charity Navigator says . For Linnington, the mission when he arrived at Wounded Warrior Project was not about exoneration; it was about regaining the lost trust of the veterans the organization was founded to serve. "We've changed that too, honestly," he said. Two great sources to check are: The Better Business Bureau's Give.org charity guide (you can also access it through bbb.org ). We put warriors on a pedestal and the nation wrapped its arms around that concept.. Once the allegations were brought to our attention, we moved quickly, said the chairman of the board, Anthony Odierno, a retired Army captain who was wounded in Iraq and was helped by the Wounded Warrior Project during its early years. Kaine, in the recent interview, also questioned Nardizzis apparent public absence while his organization has been under scrutiny. On 'Wounded Charity: Lessons From the Wounded Warrior Project Crisis Wounded Warriors Project in Crisis After Claims of Improper - PRNEWS The Wounded Warrior Project spent more than $34 million on fund-raising in 2014, according to tax records. Wounded Warrior Project's top execs fired amid lavish spending scandal CBS News and The New York Times found the. Wounded Warrior Project's CEO, Steven Nardizzi, and COO, Al Giordano, were fired by the charity's board amid criticisms about how it spent more than $800 million in donations over the last four years. "[Now], I would tell you to look at the organization, the changes they've made and make an educated decision. After Complaints on Wounded Warrior Project, Pressure From Donors It has spent millions a year on travel, dinners, hotels and conferences that often seemed more lavish than appropriate, more than four dozen current and former employees said in interviews. They wanted me to say W.W.P. After Public Crisis and Fall from Grace, Wounded Warrior Project That said, there are clear indications that the organization is improving its financial practices. How much money actually goes to wounded warriors? - Quora These stories focused on fundraising, the salary of the CEO, exorbitant spending on staff activities, and the low percentage of contributions actually going to veteran services. Wounded Warrior Project execs ousted over spending scandal - New York Post The Kanes also initiated an online petition calling for a public audit of the Wounded Warrior Project in addition to canceling the next golf tournament Tee-off for a Cause was to hold to benefit the Project. We must also pressure nonprofits to be transparent about their activities and finances and measure the impact of their work. But, as it turned out, reports of the death of Wounded Warrior Project have been greatly exaggerated. Many Americans gave their trust and donated their money to this nonprofitto the tune of more than $372 million in 2015. Millette, 41, who still lives in Jacksonville, Florida, where Wounded Warrior Project is headquartered, told Military.com he stands by all the claims he made about the organization -- $2,500 bar tabs and other prodigal spending at staff-only team-building events, a permissive "good old boys" atmosphere among leadership, and a tendency to push certain badly wounded veterans into the spotlight again and again for what appeared to be promotional purposes rather than for their benefit and well-being. The Wounded Warrior Project's mission is to honor and empower veterans, said Lopez, who lives in Elgin. Whats their motivation for telling us? What we consider before using anonymous sources. And on Tuesday, it started a program to provide care for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries, two of the most common injuries for veterans of recent wars. It turns out that it's not just New York City hitting the panic button over shortages of first responders caused by municipal vaccine mandates. Even with these questions satisfied, The Times uses anonymous sources as a last resort. The chief of Irans nuclear program, Mohammad Eslami, acknowledged the findings of the IAEA report. As WWP has worked to become more collaborative with other organizations, Linnington indicated it has also pulled back from the aggressively protective posture regarding brand and logo that drew criticism in the past. In all those areas, Linnington said Wounded Warrior Project is making strides. The Official Online Store of Wounded Warrior Project Kurnyta noted the organization had a near-perfect score in transparency: 97 out of 100. Re Helping Veterans Recover, Spending Lavishly on Itself (front page, Jan. 28): I was saddened to read of the wasteful spending at the Wounded Warrior Project. "He rappelled down the side of a building at one of the all hands events. Recently, a social movement called Effective Altruism has been pushing the nonprofit sector to become more transparent and accountable. Wounded Warrior Project Spends Lavishly on Itself, Insiders Say 1244 William Chick, who was fired from the Wounded Warrior Project in 2012 after a dispute with his supervisor. The Wounded Warrior Projects roots are more humble. The videos are typically 10 to 12 minutes long. He noted approvingly that the organization has hired more mental health professionals to do follow-up with wounded warriors, and invested dynamically in meeting the needs of female veterans. Doing so is vital for our society today to address the various societal needs that our governments do not address, and thus helping our society flourish. Connie Chapman, who was the director of the Wounded Warrior Project office in Seattle for two years, at a friends home in Eatonville, Wash. People could spend money on the most ridiculous thing and no one batted an eye, she said. The departure of two top executives, CEO Steven Nardizzi and COO Al Giordano comes at a time when the wounded veteran-focused organization is awash in controversy amid news reports accusing the . Anyone can read what you share. That meant many were airlifted back to this country with such severe injuries they needed the most sophisticated medical and rehabilitative care the country had to offer.