Soldiers who risk their lives every day and make unimaginable sacrifices in the name of protecting our country deserve to be supported and honored as they return home. However, many are forced to rely on charitable organizations when they can’t get the support they deserve.
Unfortunately, one of the most prominent charities set up for helping soldiers returning home from war, The Wounded Warriors Project, has recently been exposed by a CBS News investigation for wasting donation money from hard-working Americans that should be going to helping soldiers, and is instead using that money for themselves.
According to CharityNavigator.org, other less publicized charities like the Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust (DAV) and the Fisher House charity spends over 90 percent of its budget on veterans. The Wounded Warrior Project, on the other hand, only 60 percent of donations actually go to soldiers.
Upon returning home from Iraq in 2006 with a traumatic brain injury and PTSD, Army Staff Sergeant Erick Millette was inspired by the charity’s work, and began working as a public speaker for them. But two years later, Millette quit after being shocked by the waste.
“Their mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors, but what the public doesn’t see is how they spend their money,” he said. “You’re using our injuries, our darkest days, our hardships, to make money. So you can have these big parties.”
“It was extremely extravagant. Dinners and alcohol, and just total access” one former employee explained. Not only is the misuse of funds wrong, but the former employee went on to explain “it’s what the military calls fraud waste and abuse.”
CBS News reported that the charity’s tax forms go on to document even more misuse of funds. In 2010 the charity spent a total of $1.7 million for conferences and meetings, and in 2014, that spending on conferences and meetings skyrocketed to $26 million, which is about the same amount that they spend on their top recovery program.
“Donors don’t want you to have a $2,500 bar tab. Donors don’t want you to fly every staff member once a year to some five-star resort and whoop it up and call it team building,” Millette said.
“I’m sorry, but I’ll be damned if you’re gonna take hard-working Americans’ money and drink it and waste it,” Millette said.
Watch the entire video below to find out more about the accusations made against The Wounded Warrior Project.
While The Wounded Warrior Project does still raise money for veterans in need, keep in mind that nearly $120 million of the $300 million raised is being wasted while there are still so many vets who need help. Next time you want to donate, maybe consider donating to another group.
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[Featured image credit: CBS News]