wounded warrior scandal new york times wounded warrior scandal new york times

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 easiest way to do this is to take the perspective of a savvy investor and research donation options to make sure you do the most good per dollar donated. The reporter and at least one editor know the identity of the source. Dinners and alcoholjust total excess." 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. He said that the organization regularly followed up with veterans who receive Wounded Warrior Project services and that the vast majority reported having good experiences. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital Former workers recounted buying business-class seats and regularly jetting around the country for minor meetings, or staying in $500-per-night hotel rooms. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. But what of the veterans in need? He was fired in 2014 for what executives told him was insubordination. "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 hit back at the initial report Wednesday evening, posting online a letter to CBS News demanding a retraction. Even with these questions satisfied, The Times uses anonymous sources as a last resort. 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. Im right here. These organizations have always been known to spend very little on anything but the veterans and their families, and the general public will now be terribly suspicious and wary. 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. Get all the stories you need-to-know from the most powerful name in news delivered first thing every morning to your inbox. 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. Magazines, Digital They gave me a Xeroxed map of the hospital grounds and it was not very well photocopied, he explains on the video. Already, more than $6.9 million in grants has been awarded for this fiscal year. He said the. Do the sources know the information? This claim is false. Such unjustified distrust of high-quality nonprofits could undermine our society. "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. " People could spend money on the most ridiculous thing and no one batted an eye, said Connie Chapman, who was in charge of the charitys Seattle office for two years. But as donations poured in, many former employees say the group became wasteful. (Linnington said more than 72% of WWP spending currently goes toward programs.). "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.". 6. In particular, the organization expressed outrage that CBS. While that percentage, which includes administrative expenses and marketing costs, is not as much as for some groups, it is far more than for many veterans charities, including the Semper Fi Fund, a wounded-veterans group that spent about 8 percent of donations on overhead. Over the past few years, WWP staff members have treated themselves to nights at five-star hotels, booked first class cross-country flights to attend minor meetings in-person, attended lavish conferences, and spent nearly 40 percent of their donations . I wasnt speaking anywhere unless I was collecting a check, said Mr. Millette, who worked for the program for about two years, until he left in 2014. 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. 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. Many Americans gave their trust and. Mr. Nardizzi said his staff was constantly monitoring metrics to try to get the most out of every dollar donated. One thing the Wounded Warrior Project can immediately do is travel economy class or by train and use the savings to make home visits to veterans to see that they are getting what is needed. It is a nonprofit video news organization that aims to provide a thoughtful counterweight to todays 24/7 news cycle. The Wounded Warrior Project said Mr. Longoria was terminated at Mr. Chicks recommendation. In 2013, according to tax forms, the Wounded Warrior Project gave $150,000 to a nonprofit called the Charity Defense Council and Mr. Nardizzi joined its advisory board. Perpetuating the myth that the worth of a nonprofit organization boils down to what it spends on overhead is simply indefensible. In 2007, the scandalous treatment of wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center shocked the nation. When we dislike one member of a group, our dislike spills over to other members of that group, even if theres no good reason to think badly of them. Did you mean: wounded warrior scandal Wounded Warrior Project's top execs fired amid . The Wounded Warrior Project asserts that it spends 80 percent of donations on programs, but former employees and charity watchdogs say the charity inflates its number by using practices such as counting some marketing materials as educational. Another response would be for our candidates, who are battling about which countries to send troops to, to have a public conversation about the price our troops will pay and how they will be helped. They needed to take responsibility, and they werent doing it.. "We have 55 peer support groups across the country that meet regularly," he said. However, everything changed when CBS News started researching its own story about the Wounded Warrior Project, one with a . The development was confirmed by Abernathy MacGregor, a public relations firm hired to represent the veterans charity. 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. 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. Part of the organizations drive for growth has been a tough stance toward workers considered unproductive or disloyal. Ask anyone with a personal stake in the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), the organization founded in 2003 to provide programs and services for injured U.S. military personnel. Our average age is 38 years old," Linnington said. The Wounded Warrior Project is working to rebuild trust with its donors and veterans. "We've changed that too, honestly," he said. The Wounded Warrior Project no longer holds such events and already has increased the scrutiny on spending for travel and all expenses, he said, adding that he would be paid less than those before . The writer is head of investments and partnerships for the Forest Stewardship Council. Mr. Nardizzi fought back. 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. To fill seats, they often invited the same veterans. Employees say Mr. Nardizzi vanished from view, refusing to talk to the news media, stopping his weekly addresses to the staff, and even disappearing from the halls of the groups offices. March 14, 2016. It said that 94 percent of the travel spending was associated with program services delivered to Wounded Warriors and their families. It noted that the retreat at the Broadmoor cost about $1 million, not $3 million as CBS News had reported. Tracy Keil worries that will leave her. While the organization keeps a rating of three out of four stars, the numerical score reflects marginal improvements in program expense growth, Magdalena Kurnyta, a Charity Navigator associate program analyst, told Military.com. 76% OF WARRIORS EXPERIENCED FEWER PTSD SYMPTOMS after receiving treatment through Warrior Care Network 2 In 2014, the Wounded Warrior Project lobbied in California and Florida to fight proposals that would have required nonprofits to increase financial transparency. 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. Eighteen former employees many of them wounded veterans themselves said they had been fired for seemingly minor missteps or perceived insubordination. Graphite 80/20 Poly/Cotton Left Chest/Sleeve Design Screenprint If that money goes away, its not clear these groups can make it on their own., After Complaints on Wounded Warrior Project, Pressure From Donors, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/12/us/after-complaints-on-wounded-warrior-project-pressure-from-donors.html. Recently, however, they have been accused of being a scam and donating an insignificant portion of their funds to their declared cause. See a recent article in the New York Times and a blog post from GuideStar CEO Jacob Herald. So WW cut their spending- not to themselves, but to the people who needed their money most. The Annual Warrior Survey from Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) shows post-9/11 wounded warriors face increasing financial hardship. We put warriors on a pedestal and the nation wrapped its arms around that concept.. Each of us can make a difference by becoming a more effective donor. "[Now], I would tell you to look at the organization, the changes they've made and make an educated decision. "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. Wounded Warrior Project says 80% of their money is spent on programs for veterans. Legal Statement. The ousted Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer of the Wounded Warrior Project are finding relief in a new independent report on the allegations against the military charity . 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. If the same warrior attends six different events, you could record that as six warriors served, said Renee Humphrey, who oversaw alumni outreach in Southern California for about four years. The percentage of respondents who stated that WWP was effective at collaborating with other military and veteran nonprofits jumped from 63% to 85% from 2017 to 2018. Jan 26, 2023. Wounded Warrior Project's Top Execs Fired After Spending Scandal Wounded Warrior Project Denies Claims of Waste, Lavish Spending Wounded Warrior Project Accused of Wasting Donor Money. The Wounded Warrior Project program provides adapted equipment for injured veterans to cycle together. One 2013 commercial, "Sacrifices," featured footage of a veteran with severe traumatic brain injury struggling to walk assisted and to enter a car, and of another vet with body-encompassing burn injuries reaching for his prosthetic ears to put them on. 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. The group did lose points on its fundraising score, with roughly 22 cents spent to make a dollar, per the most recent available data. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. All rights reserved. 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. 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. The Walter Reed Story, https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/30/booming/and-this-was-called-care-the-walter-reed-story.html. But Linnington maintains it's not just about the bottom line for him. The spending began to attract attention. In news media accounts and at a Congressional hearing, the No. 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.". Crucially, these evaluative organizations, called meta-charities, do not receive any funding from organizations they are evaluating. Though many have criticized him for spending too much on fund-raising, and some charity watchdogs downgraded Wounded Warrior Projects rating for its overhead spending, Mr. Nardizzi argued that an organization could not serve its mission without upfront investment. just hours before the New York Times ran a story about the . Show your support for Wounded Warrior Project with this tee! Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Do the sources know the information? Where is WWP located? from the invisible wounds of scandal 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. That's a pretty significant drop in a short period of time," he said. " 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. 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. There were charges of spending too much on expenses (e.g., fund-raising, travel, and [] Skip to content Log In 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 . In an effort to narrow its focus, WWP has dropped some efforts in favor of supporting other organizations that specialize. The Wounded Warrior Project is in hot water. It estimates that 80,000 veterans have used its services. Michel duCille/Washington Post, via Getty Images. series about Walter Reed Army Medical Center. While top executives kept a low profile, the organizations board pursued an independent investigation, conducted by outside lawyers who combed through financial filings and interviewed more than 50 current and former employees. Still, if the Wounded Warrior Project were to collapse, it could have wide-ranging effects because it gives millions in grants to smaller veterans groups, like Team Rubicon and Team Red White and Blue. The country's most prominent veteran's . For fiscal year 2015, Wounded Warrior reported a 92.9 percent. But he acknowledged that was likely a function of WWP's phenomenally rapid growth and expansion. Then, in late January 2016, a pair of damning high-profile news reports hit like a one-two punch, throwing the organization into turmoil. He said you better do this or you are going to look disloyal to the organization, Mr. Chick said. Wounded Warrior Project executives fired in spending scandal. 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. By Friday afternoon, both phones had been disconnected. Notably, at its lowest point following the whistleblower reports and leadership churn, WWP's funding still dwarfed that of virtually every other organization in the space. The Pentagon has not provided any public updates or said when the formal policy will be issued. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Find Wounded Warrior Project shirts, headwear and other WWP merchandise at WWPShop.org In 2015, Wounded Warrior Project seemed, in the world of veterans' support organizations, to have it all: a compelling mission. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. In all those areas, Linnington said Wounded Warrior Project is making strides. 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. 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. Soon after the amputation, he said, he was racked by haunting emotions from Iraq and checked himself into suicide watch at a psychiatric ward. "Obviously, we're trying to regain trust with the warriors, first and foremost," Linnington told Military.com earlier this year. Can we corroborate the information? 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. In fiscal 2016, the organization's revenue exceeded $226 million; the closest runner-up was Disabled Veterans of America, with nearly $135 million. 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. Can we corroborate the information? Why was that poor guy placed in front of a CBS News crew? Mr. Kane, who has raised more than $325,000 for the organization, asked in an email sent in February to dozens of high-level donors. He merely notes that "a lot of what was reported was incorrect," and that, in particular, the reported costs of travel and amenities at all-hands events were far overblown. Wounded Warrior Project execs ousted over spending scandal March 11, 2016 | 3:18am Two top execs at the Wounded Warrior Project one of the largest war veterans support organizations in. All rights reserved. or redistributed. Its a mind-set that keeps the sector small and dooms efforts from the start. WWP also put up strong numbers in financial health, with controlled spending on administrative expenses and a healthy reserve of capital, which speaks to the organization's ability to sustain itself over time. But in its swift rise, it has also embraced aggressive styles of fund-raising, marketing and personnel management that have many current and former employees questioning whether it has drifted from its mission. We must also pressure nonprofits to be transparent about their activities and finances and measure the impact of their work. What we consider before using anonymous sources. 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. One current employee said her last-minute ticket cost $7,000. But along with the money came charges of excess. The organization has previously been criticized for touting a wide network of veteran members, many of whom were inactive and had received few or no services from Wounded Warrior Project. There was no one there to tell us what was going on or how we were going to get through this.. "We're looking for under 10 cents," she said. The story broke in The Washington Post in the winter of 2007, with a series about Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Recent reports from The New York Times and CBS alleged that the nonprofit has been misspending its donations on lavish conferences and unnecessary business trips for employees.. See the metrics below for more information. 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. The most recent financial report on Wounded Warrior's web site shows $372 million in donations for the 2014-15 fiscal year. At least half a dozen former employees said they were let go after raising questions about ineffective programs or spending. 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," he told CBS News. Mr. Odierno said the board took issue with cultural and policy findings as well as financial issues when deciding to replace the organizations top leaders. In early January of 2016, both The New York Times and CBS Evening News ran stories exposing the unethical spending habits of WWP. AIR Awareness Outreach; AIR Business Lunch & Learn; AIR Community of Kindness; AIR Dogs: Paws For Minds AIR Hero AIR & NJAMHAA Conference Market data provided by Factset. Charity Watch, an independent monitoring group, gave Wounded Warrior Project a D rating in 2011 and has not given it a grade higher than C since. But some employees assert that the productivity goals were set so high that they eroded program quality. So we had to rebuild.". Plenzler said spending on that program so far has totaled $100 million, with another $165 million committed over the next five years. The board of Wounded Warrior Project, a well-known veteran-support charity, parted ways with its chief executive and another top official after a board-commissioned review found the nonprofit. On the opening night, before three days of strategy sessions and team-building field trips, the staff gathered in the hotel courtyard. The same push for numbers hit a program that brings wounded veterans together for social events. 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 corporate culture, Fred Kane, one of its major fund-raisers, was stunned by the organizations response. He watched a young former Army captain who had lost an arm and a leg in Afghanistan offer CBS News awkwardly recited defenses of the group, the nations largest and fastest-growing charity for veterans. 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. He said the charity swiftly fired anyone that leaders considered a bad cultural fit.. As he told Retro Report: It just missed the bridge of my nose and exited over my left ear.