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. The bill would extend a VA program of counseling and care and services for veterans for military sexual trauma that occurred during active duty or active duty for training to veterans who experienced such trauma during inactive duty training, WWP filed a lawsuit in October 2014 seeking damages and court costs against a Blandon, Pennsylvania non-profit Keystone Wounded Warriors claiming confusing similarities between Keystone's and WWP's logos. It's really about the resilience, the exceptionalism of our warriors.". The WWP A CBS News investigation into a charity for wounded veterans, the Wounded Warrior Project, looks into how the charity spends its donation money. 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," said Millette. You can also report any incidents of consumer fraud or deception directly to the Federal Trade Commission atftc.gov/charityfraudor call (877) FTC-HELP. In 2016, the organization was rocked by allegations of lavish spending that resulted in the firing of two top executives- CEO Steven Nardizzi and COO Al Giordano. "Like I said, it's to make sure we are aligned and can build as a team. Our mission focus is on supporting our nation's wounded veterans and providing therapeutic and beneficial programs, including hunting and outdoor activities. WWP also provided home care to the most . 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. Part two of this investigation will air on "CBS This Morning," Wednesday at 7 a.m. In July 2006, WWP's headquarters were moved to Jacksonville, Florida. Donations plummeted. (2015). WWP Founder John Melia cited a strong local veteran community, access to Jacksonville International Airport, and support from the local business community, specifically the PGA Tour, as the reason for the move. WWP pays only its vendors, contractors, and legitimate employees, and does not send unsolicited checks in the mail. ", In March 2014, WWP testified before Congress that they strongly supported the bill "To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide veterans with counseling and treatment for sexual trauma that occurred during inactive duty training". Retired Army Lt. Gen. Michael S. Linnington, who took over the Wounded Warrior Project in July, said in an emailed statement that he is "pleased to see the Better Business Bureau's report. [52] However, for the fiscal year ended 30 September 2016, Charity Watch assigned WWP a C+ rating (up from a D originally) and Charity Navigator published its rating for WWP on 1 February 2017 as "four out of four stars" (up from three). He also told CBS News that the charity did not spend money on alcohol or engages in any other kind of excessive spending. "It's like walking through a minefield, donating to an efficient veterans charity," he said. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck. Wounded Warrior Project is one of the largest veterans service organizations in the United States with office locations and partners across the country. CBS News spoke to more than 40 former employees who described a charity where spending was out of control. In 2015, Wounded Warrior Project seemed, in the world of veterans' support organizations, to have it all: a compelling mission. The Wounded Warrior Project, WWP, is a not-for-profit charity that aims to assist wounded veterans with their needs. Like Charity Navigator, Charity Watch is critical of WWP's fundraising efficiency, which it considers to be on the low end of acceptable. Through their veteran family support programs, Wounded Warrior Project also helps guide families through the sometimes confusing process of receiving VA benefits. When the Wounded Warrior Project was hit in January with multiple accusations in the news media of lavish spending on travel, conferences and public relations, and a toxic . About 500 staff members attended the four-day conference in Colorado, which CBS News reported cost about $3 million. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. In 2014, after 10 years of rapid growth, the Wounded Warrior Project flew its roughly 500 employees to Colorado Springs for an "all hands" meeting at the . That's about the same amount the group spends on combat stress recovery -- its top program. or redistributed. 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. WWP is recognized under the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) workplace giving program of the federal government of the United States with CFC #11425. Market data provided by Factset. [48] And spending on conferences and meetings had increased from just under $2 million in 2010 to $26 million in 2014. To date, the WWP's . WWP does not authorize use of its trade names, trademarks, service marks, logos, domain names, and other distinctive brand features without prior approval. We are independently audited every year, and copies of our financial documents since our inception are easily accessible for free on our website at. In all those areas, Linnington said Wounded Warrior Project is making strides. WWP was granted accreditation as of September 10, 2008, by the Veterans Affairs Secretary as a Veterans Service Organization (VSO) "recognized by the Secretary for the purpose of preparation, presentation, and prosecution of claims under laws administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Charity Navigator's rating for WWP has fluctuated over the years: It dipped down to two stars in 2010 as the organization grew, then briefly rose to a full four stars in 2017, reflecting the delayed arrival of 2015 data. Each of us can make a difference by becoming a more effective donor. LTG (ret) Michael Linnington serves as chief executive officer of Wounded Warrior Project (WWP). Wounded Warrior Project was founded in 2003 in Roanoke, Virginia by John Melia. Wounded Warrior Project executives fired in spending scandal. Every month in 2021, more than 1,277 warriors and family members registered with Wounded Warrior Project to receive our free programs and services. 65,696. attendees of our Invincible Spirit Festivals since 2012. WWP has also pressed forward in its role as a legislative advocate, recently mounting a campaign to expand an adaptive housing benefit available to veterans -- legislation named after longtime WWP staff member Ryan Kules. But he acknowledged that was likely a function of WWP's phenomenally rapid growth and expansion. WWP Founder John Melia cited a strong local veteran community, access to Jacksonville International Airport, and support from the local business community, specifically the PGA Tour, as the reason for the move. We take all reports of fraud and infringement against WWP seriously, and will update our supporters here if we receive several alerts concerning the same scam. Nearly 200 athletes from U.S. military branches will. "TAPS believed these cancers were due to [toxic exposure]. In fiscal 2016, the organization's revenue exceeded $226 million; the closest runner-up was Disabled Veterans of America, with nearly $135 million. 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. "WWP and those donor dollars trained me to speak and be a voice, and that's exactly what I'm doing," said Millette. The organization slashed all-hands training costs from $987,000 in 2016 to $110,000 in 2019 for a staff of nearly 700, according to numbers provided to Military.com, in direct response to public criticism. Melia assembled backpacks distributed to injured veterans at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Kurnyta said the watchdog group published a "low-concern" advisory for WWP in 2016 as staffing scandals made headlines, but never stopped rating the organization. No. Millette is now best known as a whistleblower who went on the record to decry what he saw as WWP's lavish spending and interest in nurturing its public image, rather than providing meaningful support to its constituents. -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. "The warriors that joined Wounded Warrior Project, you know, in 2003 are today 15 years older than they were when they joined. In Uncategorized. Board chairman Anthony Odierno was announced as temporarily taking control of the charity. 773,608. meals served to our nation's defenders across the country. Many of these postings stem from false accusations initially published by an Indiana individual, Dean Graham. WWP's legislative agenda is guided by the information in the organization's Annual Warrior Alumni Survey and encompasses issue areas spanning from veteran brain health and toxic exposure to women veteran issues. We recognize these are freedoms our service members fought and sacrificed to protect. [47], In March 2016, Wounded Warrior Project's board of directors dismissed the charity's top two executives, Steven Nardizzi and Al Giordano, after hiring the law firm Simpson Thacher & Bartlett to perform an independent review of spending issues related to the company's funds. We recognize these are freedoms our service members fought and sacrificed to protect. That's about the. "The report I issued on spending at the Wounded Warrior Project highlighted a number of concerns that needed to be addressed," he said in a statement. Wounded Warrior Project was founded in 2003[1] in Roanoke, Virginia,[7] by John Melia. organization. "When the negative media event hit in January-February-March of 2016, public support dropped 50%," he said. Our salaries are consistent with industry standards and have often fallen at the lower end of compensation paid at comparable organizations. Our mission focus is on supporting our nation's wounded veterans and providing therapeutic and beneficial programs, including hunting and outdoor activities. WWP strives to provide our warriors with high-touch, comprehensive support in the areas of mental health, physical health, education and employment. To do this, we must give numbers priority over emotionally compelling stories. In a survey of the injured warriors Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) serves, 62% of them reported feelings of loneliness. Regarding the criticism that WWP's portrayal of veterans in the past overemphasized traumatic wounds and veterans in need of lifelong help and support, Linnington said the organization's advertising approach is now different. "Wounded Warrior Project was there when I needed them most," says another ad, featuring veteran Chris Wolff, his hand on the wheel of his chair as if poised for action. Wounded Warrior Project initially operated as a division of the United Spinal Association of New York, which adopted WWP as a program in November 2003, Wounded Warrior Project registered for incorporation on February 23, 2005. [38], In March 2014, WWP testified before Congress strongly supporting the bill "To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide veterans with counseling and treatment for sexual trauma that occurred during inactive duty training (H.R. You can check out all of the registered and approved WWP community events at:woundedwarriorproject.org/give-backand click "find an event near you." "It was extremely extravagant. Wounded Warrior Project is an American charity and veterans service organization that offers a variety of programs, services and events for wounded veterans of the military actions following September 11, 2001. Religion and Technology Should Unite for the Greater Good, The 25 Defining Works of the Black Renaissance. 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. "He rappelled down the side of a building at one of the all hands events. It was litigious, suing other veterans' organizations that featured a logo that evoked its own, a service member in silhouette carrying a wounded comrade on his back. FALSE: Only 3.5% of WWPs income is being expended to directly help service members. Now, they're doing that follow-up, and they have the capacity to deal with the mental health issues," he said. " "[43] Shortly after the church received this letter, a WWP spokesperson apologized and said that it was a miscommunication. 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. It also alleged that WWP distributed what it deemed an insubstantial percentage of donations to actual wounded warriors, and that it overpaid its executive staff. But, he says, he doesn't regret what he did; he still believes his assessment of WWP at the time was accurate and his intervention necessary. 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. Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is an American charity and veterans service organization that offers a variety of programs, services and events for wounded veterans of the military actions following September 11, 2001. The kind of fundraising figures that most organizations in the space could only dream about. "It's the best use of donor dollars to ensure we are providing programs and services to our warriors and families at the highest quality.". It wasn't just about lavish all-hands gatherings, although those quickly became a thing of the past. [4][5] WWP has also previously provided a year-long Track program, which helped veterans transition to college and the workplace. Wounded Warrior Project | HISTORY Channel Jun 13, 2018 Serving Their Country, Serving Their Community How the Wounded Warrior Project helps veterans help themselves and then help. Initially, he admired the charity's work, and participated in its programs. The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is the largest veteran's charity in the United States. It's been more than two years since the Wounded Warrior Project was rocked by a scandal surrounding allegations of excessive salaries and lavish spending, but the Jacksonville-based charity . Staying at a lavish hotel at the beach here in Jacksonville, and requiring staff that lives in the area to stay at the hotel is not team building," Millette continued. About $3 million. The truth is that WWP directly operates over 20 programs and services to support service members and their families and the vast majority of our program expenditures constitute those internally-operated programs. If an event does not appear on the calendar, feel free to drop us a line atinfo@woundedwarriorproject.org. [22], Warriors to Work[23] is a WWP veteran employment program that connects veterans with employers and resources for jobs. Previous reporting from Tim Mak, then at the Daily Beast, had detailed similar claims, but the reports published in January pushed the issue to critical mass. All legitimate WWP job opportunities are listed on our website under Cool Careers.". Then, in late January 2016, a pair of damning high-profile news reports hit like a one-two punch, throwing the organization into turmoil. TRUTH: This is only the amount of funds WWP grants to other organizations, suggesting those grants represent the totality of our programs, which is untrue. [3] The organization has partnered with several other charities, including the American Red Cross, Resounding Joy, a music therapy group in California, and Operation Homefront. "When TAPS contacted us a few years back to say the majority of active-duty deaths they were seeing were suicides and rare cancers that young people should not be getting, we started investigating and funding," Plenzler said in an email. Wounded Warrior Project Timeline by: Braden Ireland and Josh Faulkner 2010-In the 2009/2010 season a group of 6 football teams wore special designed uniforms in honor of wounded warrior. Wounded Warrior Project declined CBS News' repeated interview requests for Nardizzi, but offered their Director of Alumni and a recipient of their services, Captain Ryan Kules. The problem is the horns effect, one of the many thinking errors that are a consequence of how our brains are structured. But according to public records reported by "Charity Navigator," the Wounded Warrior Project spends 60 percent on vets. Not at all. But people close to the organization also say that, as WWP expanded from a tiny organization distributing free backpacks to wounded veterans in the early 2000s to become one of the most well resourced and influential veterans organizations within a decade, it generated more than its share of ill will. If you believe an organization or website may not be operating for its claimed charitable purpose, contact your state attorney general or the Better Business Bureau atbbb.org. That's thanks in part to a soul-searchingly earnest restructuring effort helmed by CEO Mike Linnington, a retired three-star Army general who arrived at the organization in 2016 with a mandate to turn things around. In other words, the Wounded Warrior Project scandal will likely reduce trust in all nonprofitsincluding effective ones. In September 2016, Forbes published a pre-emptive obituary to the organization: "The Gutting Of Wounded Warrior: How To Kill A Charity.". 2016 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. 2527; 113th Congress), Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance, "Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax: Wounded Warrior Project", "Charity Navigator Rating for Wounded Warrior Project", United States Congress. Dinners and alcoholjust total excess." There are several defamatory blog postings on the internet along with various email chains which claim WWP is a scam. About 500 staff members attended the four-day conference in Colorado. "Their mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors, but what the public doesn't see is how they spend their money," said Army Staff Sergeant Erick Millette. So we had to rebuild.". It no longer invests, for example, in its TRACK college preparation program for wounded warriors, preferring to let Student Veterans of America own the space. WWP may engage in these practices and, if so, individuals soliciting on behalf of WWP will do the following: wear a lanyard/badge/unique fundraiser photo ID, accept donations via a secure iPad and/or phone call using a credit card (cash donations are not accepted), and they will not go door-to-door. Slightly more than half of the Kanes' donations directly benefitted veterans, according to CBS News. That said, there are clear indications that the organization is improving its financial practices. The programs it did create for veterans often served more as showpieces for marketing than as efforts to address the actual needs of veterans. Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, an outspoken accountability advocate who oversaw a Senate probe into WWP released in 2017, struck a hopeful note in a statement to Military.com. With health issues due to toxic exposure becoming an increasing concern for veterans, WWP has invested some $620,000 since fiscal 2017 toward research, partnering with Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) and the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, or TAPS, to study disease linkages, build awareness and create a "tiger team" of organizations to develop ways to help affected veterans and their families. "Their mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors, but what the public doesn't see is how they spend their money," he said. Wounded Warrior Project's CEO, Steven Nardizzi, and COO, Al Giordano, were fired by the charity's board amid criticisms about how it spends more than $800 million raised in donations in the. Kurnyta noted the organization had a near-perfect score in transparency: 97 out of 100. Linnington oversees day-to-day operations and works with the leadership team to set and implement the organization's strategic vision. We knew VVA had done pioneering work on Agent Orange, so we created a collaborative grant to pair them with TAPS to start gathering data on [toxic exposure] and to help ensure trans-generational knowledge transfer from the Vietnam-era generation of veterans to today's post-9/11 generation.". specially adapted smart homes completed for our severely wounded heroes. [46] That same month, CBS News disclosed that the WWP had grown to spend millions of dollars annually on team-building events. Former employees say spending has skyrocketed since Steven Nardizzi took over as CEO in 2009. 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. WWP also does not authorize proceeds from sales without a licensing agreement. [6] In January 2017 The Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance renewed its accreditation of WWP, for the next two years, as meeting the 20 standards for charity accountability. As part of this judgment, Graham retracted his false statements and apologized to Wounded Warrior Project, acknowledging that his conduct was disrespectful and inappropriate. Where is this guy? Already, more than $6.9 million in grants has been awarded for this fiscal year. But Linnington said the organization is closely tracking engagement, and estimated that 30% of members were actively engaged in WWP community events or taking advantage of free programs. 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, a Somalia-wounded Marine veteran initiated, the Wounded Warrior Project when he started giving backpacks full of items to returning Iraq war veterans in 2003. We regularly register religious-based events and accept donations from religious-based organizations. Follow the links below to view the court documents. Although detailed defenses of Wounded Warrior Project have been mounted -- including a lengthy independent report from nonprofit expert Doug White, published in September 2016 -- Linnington spends little time trying to relitigate the past. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. If you are unsure of the legitimacy of any event or fundraiser claiming to benefit WWP, please contactfraudalert@woundedwarriorproject.org. Our warriors and their families deserve no less. [20], Wounded Warrior Project provides interactive programs, rehabilitation retreats, and free mental health counseling. In fact, they are one of the largest programs out there for wounded veterans. Through career counseling, including resume building, interview preparation, and salary negotiation assistance, veterans can find work that best fits their skill sets and allows them to smoothly transition into civilian life. The Wounded Warrior Project began in 2003 as a basement nonprofit organization run by Mr. Melia, who was wounded in a helicopter crash off Somalia. And it did not appear to prioritize collaboration with other veterans' organizations, taking criticism for relatively small grants it made to support other groups and for passing up opportunities to join forces for advocacy and shared knowledge. WASHINGTON -- Last year, CBS News met Erick Millette, one of dozens of former employees who shared concerns about Wounded Warrior Project's spending and programs for veterans. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Unfortunately, yes. [5], WWP allocates 71 percent of its revenue to programs and services for wounded veterans and their families, and the remaining balance pays to support those programs.[6]. According to the charity's tax forms obtained by CBS News, spending on conferences and meetings went from $1.7 million in 2010, to $26 million in 2014, which is the same amount the group spends on combat stress recovery. Reference: Berlinghoff, W. P., & Gouvea Fernando Q. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. JACKSONVILLE, Fla Jacksonville based Wounded Warrior Project was the fastest-growing veteran's service organization before it was rocked by a scandal in 2016. 2527; 113th Congress)". "We have met with DoD a couple times, when I first came on board, to talk about how we can help inspire young people to serve," he said. " 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. "It's the best use of donor dollars to ensure we are providing programs and services to our warriors and families at the highest quality," he said. The Wounded Warrior Project is one of the biggest veterans organizations in the country. You have reached your limit of free articles. What I'm worried about is, how can we be the most effective in meeting the needs of our warriors in whatever resources we have?". He noted, approvingly, that as of 2018, 64% of WWP spending goes to fund programs, up from about 54% in 2016. Our free services in mental health, career counseling, long-term rehabilitative care, and policy advocacy improve the lives of millions of warriors and their families. 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