Wounded Warrior Project - Anti Gun?

[Mark Walker in TX]

http://www.mywesttexas.com/top_stories/article_5e978264-2f83-11e2-a111-0019bb2963f4.html

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

http://www.examiner.com/article/wounded-warrior-redux-wwp-now-clarifying-our-approach?cid=db_articles

 

[Mark Walker in TX]

http://www.change.org/petitions/wounded-warrior-project-give-more-money-to-veterans-and-support-the-us-constitution

 

[JRS]

To maintain their favorable determination by the IRS, so called charitable organizations such as the WWP trash only have to use 5%, and sometimes as little as 1% to the actual charity. GOD only knows where the remaining 95%-99% of the money goes. I wouldn't give them the sweat from my gonads.

 

[gme]

WWP needs to do two things first, before trying to 'clarify' thier position,

1. apologize and admit they got it wrong,
2. fire thier PR director

Gary Eliseo

 

[ratguner]

News article from the Shooting Wire:
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

November 16, 2012

Wounded Warrior Project CEO and More on This Week's Gun Talk Radio

Mandeville, LA - It's clarification from the Wounded Warrior Project, a firearms engraver, the founder of MarineParents.com, an optics company, and more, this week on Tom Gresham's Gun Talk® Radio, the original nationally-syndicated radio talk show about guns and the shooting sports.

The CEO of the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP), Steven Nardizzi, will be a guest on this Sunday's show. This follows a week where show host Tom Gresham shared his email exchange with the PR director of WWP in which she indicated that the organization does not do interviews with media or appear at events which are related to guns. This set off a firestorm of reaction by hunters and shooters, many of whom have donated to help wounded veterans as well as putting on fundraising hunts and shoots for the WWP.

"I'm really glad that the Wounded Warrior Project is coming on the show to clarify their position on this," said Gresham. "It has been really confusing to see them taking donations from firearms manufacturers as well as hunting groups, and then to be told that they won't appear in public with us. The latest communication from WWP is that this is all a big mistake and that they want to clear it up with me this Sunday. "

 

[NateHaler]

Here's the email they sent to my in reply to my email expressing my concerns about this issue:
---------------
We appreciate your concern regarding this matter. First, these questions arose as a result of a miscommunicated message when declining an opportunity for WWP to appear on Gun Talk Radio. This mistake has unfortunately led some people to question our support of the 2nd Amendment.

Please know WWP wholeheartedly supports the Constitution of the United States of America, which includes the Second Amendment. We recognize these are the freedoms our Alumni fought and sacrificed to protect!

WWP has a long history of facilitating therapeutic hunting and outdoor opportunities for Wounded Warriors as well as fundraising activities that involve firearms.

Thank you for your support of Wounded Warrior Project as we continue to honor and empower wounded warriors.


Thank you,

MELISSA MCARTHUR

O: 904.405.1350
M: 904.625.6491
F: 904.296.7347

Wounded Warrior Project
4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300
Jacksonville, Florida 32256
-------------------------------------------------

However, their website says this: "When organizing a fundraiser or event to benefit Wounded Warrior Projectâ„¢ (WWP), please bear in mind we do not support any fundraiser that is of a sexual, political, religious nature, or exchange of firearms or alcohol."

So, if your local Hooters wants to hold a Friends of the NRA Raffle (say for a really nice bunch of rifles and shotguns) with the proceeds to benefit WWP, and your church group decides to attend in force, apparently the WWP would say "no thanks".

As to Ms. McArthur's letter, it clearly contradicts the website caveat mentioned.

Their PR Director should be fired, and fast. But my hunch is that the WWP is being disingenuous, which is typical of liberal organizations in general. Like such causes that exploit children and pets, they're looking for political leverage, not to truly help those being championed. Pathetic.

 

[Outrider27]

It will be interesting to see how WWP represents itself this Sunday, but, imo, someone at WWP is blowing smoke, because now their stories don't jive. I've heard Barack Obama say he supports the 2nd Amendment, too, and we know how much that statement is worth.....

 

[Louisiana Shooter]

SCREW 'EM!!! Nothin' else from me! PERIOD!

I've had enough of this kinda stuff. They lie for the money.....then when they get caught with their pants around their ankles they say it was all a "misunderstanding"

Typical of politicians today!

Hate to say it but we've probably got another civil war in our not too distant future.

 

[wapitismith]

I am still trying to figure out my position on this. While I am, as all of us are, adamant supporters of the veterans, military and especially those continuing to pay for their sacrifice, I do not enjoy the same respect for most non-profit or not-for-profit organizations that feign the same.

Wounded Warrior Project has, by it's own admission and reporting, only shown to assist actual wounded warriors with $0.30 from every dollar donated. They decline discussion on a national level with a clearly supportive radio show and claim it's the gun issue that prohibits them, but they allow, sponsor and promote hunting for their alumni. Well, they claim; As is witnessed by an alum above, it doesn't appear that they have a good record in that either. They point to their guidelines on their website that indicate they do not support the 'exchange' of alcohol or firearms. The radio show does not exchange either of these commodities. However, they are accpting over $3M from Tough Mudder, an event both sponsored and supplied by Dos Equis!

There is no amount of conversation alone that can rectify their irresponsible behavior! They are clearly in it for the money (CEO is paid $353K/year) and publicity!

If you want to support our heroes and true wounded warriors, then take a vet hunting or fishing. Support Healing Waters instead of WWP! Help them in their everyday lives and remind them that we appreciate them! In Person!

From a Proud USMC Dad!

 

[Crimson Phantom]

Do not give to these thieves they have nothing to do with Wounded Warrior Bn. They are crooks that use donated money to give themselve huge salaries. If you want money to go to the wounded give to Rogue Corps. They get the Combat Modified Marines out and take them Shooting, Flying, Parachuting, just living. All of the money donated goes to the Combat modified, not some rediculious salary for a big wig. I was started by a great EOD Marine who lost both of his legs. This guy give of his time to show other with injuries what is still possible, and does not take a dime. I am sure that there are lots of other charities that follow the same principles.

 

[jimini]

Absolutely ridiculous.

 

[jonbearman]

When wwp started out they had good intentions and then the ceo steps in and writes his own ticket and gets paid 14 times the salary I get just to be a figure head. Clearly our laws dealing with these organizations of creating high paying jobs for the ceo and his buddies needs to be addressed by the congress and the senate to change the law making it possible for only 1-5% percent to be used for staff and the rest to take these fine men on a hunt of a lifetime. The only reason you see so many ads showing dirty,unattended children on tv with a grandfatherly looking fella begging for money to feed the children that these people pop out like poptarts every year and cant afford them is disgustiong.They even send you a cute packet from the child showing them with nice new cloths and eating rice makes you feel all fuzzy all over. This is just a ploy to make money and decieve you and guilt you to give genorously to the cause like wwp. We need to cut them off and ignore them.Every gun club across america could handle this with their four or five man unpaid board to give out the hunts and pay the guide. There is no need to rip anyone off.I always notice one thing when I find out the ceo's name and I cant print it for fear of reprisal.Each of these ceo's has one thing in common and I will let you figure that out. They are common thugs making big pay for occupying an office with a pretty name plate on their door. I am so pissed that this is allowed to keep happening.

 

[hogpatrol]

After doing research on how much of the donation actually goes to them, I ceased giving to some of these vets "charities" a long time ago. I would rather write out a check to one I know personally and tell her or him to spend that money any way he sees fit. Like a previous poster stated, they prey on the sympathies of good hearted and patriotic Americans to line their own pockets. Some of the salaries and boards of directors and executive committees packed with paid family members are ludicrous. I would advise before giving to these organizations, one do his due diligence and see how much out of every dollar actually helps their constituents.

 

[Steve Blair]

After doing research on how much of the donation actually goes to them, I ceased giving to some of these vets "charities" a long time ago. I would rather write out a check to one I know personally and tell her or him to spend that money any way he sees fit. Like a previous poster stated, they prey on the sympathies of good hearted and patriotic Americans to line their own pockets. Some of the salaries and boards of directors and executive committees packed with paid family members are ludicrous. I would advise before giving to these organizations, one do his due diligence and see how much out of every dollar actually helps their constituents.

[br]
On the money. Good advice.

 

[stinnett1981]

I dont donate to any of them. I work for 1 of the largest manufacturing companies in the world and every year we shut down our production lines for 1 hour so United Way can come in and play 45 minutes of depressing videos of people that was living under a bridge and United Way saved their lives. Then United Way ask for our money. I did a little research about their CEO. His name is Brian Gallagher and he makes $375K a year. That doesnt include all his perks.

 

[Killshot]

Don't let Nardizzi's actions ruin your appreciation for all charities. He should be ashamed of his $320K/yr salary!

There are a number of really good groups out there that put nearly all of the donations toward the Vets.

I found these two in a couple of minutes on CharityNavigator's website.
Homes for Troops, builds and gives homes to Vets http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=11553
Operation Homefront, provides "care packages" to Vets overseas and their families here. http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=10849

Find a charity that doesn't rake in hundreds of millions; your donation will make a bigger impact with the smaller ones.