WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT
 

www.woundedwarriorproject.org

Mission
The mission of the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) is to raise public
awareness and enlist the public's aid for the needs of severely injured
service men and women, to help severely injured service members to aid
and assist each other, and to provide unique, direct programs and
services to meet their needs.

WWP accomplishes this mission by providing programs and services to
severely injured active service members and their families during the
critical time between their initial rehabilitation while on active duty
and their eventual transition to civilian life. WWP employs staff with
over 55 years of combined experience in providing direct services to
active duty service members and disabled veterans, including benefits
counseling, representation before the department of veterans affairs,
bringing public attention to the needs of wounded service members, and
advocating for regulatory and statutory changes beneficial to veterans
and active duty service members.

There are many military service organizations that provide services to
active duty service members and their families, and many veteran service
organizations that provide services and opportunities for fraternal
interaction to veterans upon their discharge from service. However, few
organizations devote their resources to assisting the severely wounded
during this critical period. WWP fills this vital, unmet need, bringing
comfort, support, and aid to severely injured service members and their
families during this challenging time in their lives.

Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) Accepted to the Combined Federal Campaign
(CFC)

Jacksonville, FL (August 22, 2006) The Wounded Warrior Project, a
non-profit organization aimed at assisting the men and women of the
United States armed forces who have been severely injured during the war
on terrorism, has been added to the list of non-profit agencies for the
2006/2007 Combined Federal Campaign (CFC).

The mission of the CFC is to promote and support philanthropy through
employee-focused and cost-efficient programs that provide federal
employees the opportunity to help those in need.

Each year during the September 1 through December 15 campaign season,
more than 300 CFC initiatives in the United States and abroad raise
millions of dollars for non-profit organizations that provide health and
human services.

The CFC represents the millions of federal employees nationwide and we
are thrilled to be a part of the targeted and focused campaigns for
assistance. Together, we can open many doors for the brave men and women
the Project aims to assist, stated WWP Executive Director and Founder
John Melia.

Services provided by WWP include benefits counseling, rehabilitation,
adaptive sports opportunities and advocacy initiatives to aid in the
transition from a hospital bed to an independent and productive life.
Many of the injuries suffered are traumatic amputations, gunshot wounds,
burns and blast injuries that will retire these brave warriors from
military service.

Please visit www.opm.gov/cfc/. Wounded Warrior Project is listed as
number 9376 and is designated as both a domestic and international
charity.

Anyone worked with them or know anyone who has been helped by them?

Just curious...

Haven't heard of them
 

I have not heard of them. I will be back in the office on 3 JAN and will run it and check it out. See who is involved. If legit it sounds like a great thing. Nobody in 7th Group circles is talking about it right now. I will check with USASOC and USASFC when I get back to work.

Z

The orginization that my son works for has ties with them, Morgan Franklin. Not sure to what extent, but I have a t shirt that my son gave me with the WWP and Morgan Franklin tied together as a logo.

Don't know how much help that is but Morgan Franklin is semi big. I don't think a scam would tie into something like that and not get checked.

My 2 cents.

Looks like a worthwhile project, but I'd like to see some names behind the scenes if you know what I mean...who runs this ?

Sir, from their FAQ:


I have donated to them in the past and they have gotten some good press over the last year or so.

Thanks,

gonna have to do some research...I knew a Maj Melia way back when...

I should have included this link in my original post. Here are faces and backgrounds to the staff:

Wounded Warrior Project Staff

They seem very good to go.

Here is a link to some stories of warriors who have been helped by the foundation.

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org...ss_Stories.htm

I know that WWP members were directly responsible for legislation, that was signed into law, that retroactively allowed benefits to be paid through SGLI. As you know, their were no dismemberment-disability insurance benefits prior to this legislation.

http://www.insurance.va.gov/sgliSite/TSGLI/TSGLI.htm


Traumatic Injury Protection Under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance (TSGLI)

Every member who has SGLI also has TSGLI effective December 1, 2005. This coverage applies to active duty members, reservists, funeral honors duty and one-day muster duty.

This benefit is also provided retroactively for members who incur severe losses as a result of traumatic a injury between October 7, 2001 and December 1, 2005 if the loss was the direct result of injuries incurred in Operations Enduring Freedom or Iraqi Freedom.

In looking at their corporate sponsors and board of directors......they be some heavy hitters.

Thanks for the additional info...

Their response to my request for an Annual Report:

"We are currently compiling the statistics for our
2006 Annual Report. However, we do have our audited financials from
FY2005-06. Based on those figures, $1,211,027.45 (22.7% of overall
expenditures) was attributed to administration and fund raising and
$4,113,673.88 (77.3% of overall expenditures) were attributed to our
programs for wounded warriors and their families.

"Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions. Thank you for your service to our country. Have a safe and happy New Year."

Jeff Searcy
Executive Vice President, Resource Development

Wounded Warrior Project
Corporate Office:
7020 A.C. Skinner Parkway, Suite 100
Jacksonville, FL 32256

Here's why I posted this and ask for your input,

formulating my next book [in my head for now]
and am looking for the right charity to support with it.

The topic of this will be the Future Army. What we need.
More than just Material Solutions.

As it applies to an audience bigger than SOF,
I want a charity that helps more than just SOF.

Thoughts? Recommendations?
Gut reactions?

"We are currently compiling the statistics for our 2006 Annual Report. However, we do have our audited financials fromFY2005-06.
Based on those figures, $1,211,027.45 (22.7% of overall expenditures) was attributed to administration and fund raising
and $4,113,673.88 (77.3% of overall expenditures) were attributed to our programs for wounded warriors and their families.


WM- As a finance guy, the admin numbers look high to me, probably because I don't know how they are apportioning salaries between theese 2 general groupings. I am assuming that the non executive salaries are under administration - with an expected value of ~370K, and that the executive salraies are attributed partially to admin and partially to programs.

Not having seen the audited financials - it looks like salaries are a bit high (based on the geographies of the staff), they tend to be lower standard of living areas from the base line NY/MA/CA standard of ~1, averaging a low San Antonio / Central VA of about .67 to what looks like Boston which is a 1.1 - for an average of about .8. ther is also a disconnect between stated work locations of VA for most of the staff and the Corporate Office in Jacksonville FL.

The expense to donation ratio (just assuming that projects is donations out) is in the close watch zone for the watchdog agencies for charitable contributions because it is greater than 20% - 10-15% is what is considered a well run charity (Leukemia/Lymphoma Society runs at about 16% admin to donation).

I'd want to see the full financials to make a decision as to whether they are well or ill run. I like the premise of the organization, but financially and organizationally something doesn't feel 100% - outside of the nepotism in the executive ranks. I'd wait until you get the full financials before making a decision.

Ok, I have now proven why they call call my profession Financial ANALysts, even though I perfected the analysis skills in SF.

Not sure if you would want all proceeds to go to one charity, or if you would pick a couple? I've heard/read good things about this organization...no first hand knowledge however. Maybe you could check them out as well.

http://www.homesforourtroops.org/site/PageServer

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Apr2...0418_4853.html

x-SF-med said
.

WM - I agree with x-SF-med! The nepotism at the top is almost always cause for concern. Beyond that I have examined enough financial statements over the last twenty years to know "liars figure and figures lie". I would get the full report.

Also, there are numerous websites that evaluate and rate charities.

charitywatch.org rates Fisher House Foundation and Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund as A+ rated military charities (based on admin to program expense ratios).

charitynavigator.org says that WWP is a splinter organization of the United Spinal Association. A charity that they rate as having only 2 out of 4 stars.
(They rate SOWF as 4 out of 4 stars).

W-M,

WWP may (or may not) be a good new charity, but the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) and Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) are two well-established, proven service organizations that help injured/wounded vets.

I like Fisher House, they do good work.

Participation in the CFC is no indicator of goodness or worthiness of a charity. They have some real stinkers, some working against the military.

TR

Gypsy,

From http://www.charitynavigator.org/inde...w/cpid/419.htm

Best Practices of Saavy Donors:
#9. Concentrate Your Giving

When it comes to financial investments, diversification is the key to reducing risk. The opposite is true for philanthropic investments. If you've really taken the time to identify a well-run charity that is engaged in a cause that you are passionate about, you should then feel confident in giving it a donation. Spreading your money among multiple organizations not only results in your mail box filling up with more appeals, it also diminishes the possibility of any of those groups bringing about substantive change as each charity is wasting a large percentage of your gift on fundraising and overhead expenses.

Interesting info, thanks W-M.

Would have been helpful if they could break down that 22.7% a little farther. I would like to know how much of that was administration and how much was fund raising.

I have a friend who was the first family to stay in the Fisher House at Ft Bragg. She was very appreciative of all that was done for her family by all those at Ft Bragg and the Fisher House Foundation.

I like Fisher House. Two years ago while working on a project for a friend, I searched for an organization that: serviced all branches, low financial overhead and provided more than scholarships. Fisher House met all my requirements. The MSM got in our way and our plans, but they were a great organization to work with.

www.fisherhouse.org.

Fisher House
 

I am over here at BAMC and the work that is done at the Fisher House is amasing. They have constructed multiple buildings for our wounded warriors. The main Fisher House building conducts operations that deal with the health and welfare of so many service men and women (most from the burn unit here at BAMC). Look into them and make sure the numbers work out but from what i have seen and heard, they are doing some great things.

Wounded Warrior Project
 

The following is an email I received from a friend on WWP. I have some concerns concerning this subject. I do not believe this will stop me from supporting WWP but it does beg some discussion..

For your Consideration:






Subject:: Wounded Warrior Project rejects gun-owners, gun-dealers,
gun-manufacturers.


<http://gunsnplanes.blogspot.com/2012/11/wounded-warrior-project-rejects-gun.html>
http://gunsnplanes.blogspot.com/2012...jects-gun.html

No, I'm not kidding. Wounded Warrior Project is taking center stage as
the biggest group of hypocrites this nation has ever seen.

I got an e-mail earlier today from an associate in south-central Texas
about this breaking news, and my first reaction was to pick up the
phone and accuse the e-mailer of being drunk. Since he doesn't drink,
that accusation fell flat.

He was typing as we talked, then he told me to check my in-box. "The
proof is in there," he assured me.

Sure as hell. . .

To briefly set this up, Tom Gresham of Gun Talk invited Wounded
Warrior Project to be on his show on Veterans Day. What a great way to
raise a lot of money in a short amount of time. Veterans are
patriotic, and for sure gun-owners are. Gun-owners are also generous
when it comes to helping out veterans.

His (Gresham's) invitation was flatly refused.

Thanks to the e-mails being shared openly and publicly with
<http://guns.com/> Guns.com, there is no denying where Wounded Warrior
Project stands on the issue of guns and gun-owners.

Here is the e-mail exchange between Gresham and the PR chief for
Wounded Warrior Project, along with an explanatory intro by one of
Gresham's staffers.

Again, thank you to Tom Gresham and Gun Talk and Guns.com
<http://guns.com/> for sharing this.

Wounded Warrior Project Email Exchange

by <http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8869473517329839057> Gun
Talk on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at 10:56am ·

After Sunday's show, we've gotten many emails about Tom's remarks
after WWP declined an interview request on Gun Talk Radio because it's
a firearms-related show. We've also seen the forums that are
suggesting many things that are not true. So, I'm going to lay it all
out right here.

We thought it would be great to book the WWP on the Veteran's Day show
to promote the organization, so I contacted them. I was flabbergasted
when their PR contact, Leslie, sent me an email saying they could not
participate because our show dealt with firearms. Knowing that WWP has
a booth at SHOT show and various gun shows across the US, takes
wounded warriors on hunts and range days, raffles guns and accessories
as fundraisers, etc., their policy didn't make much sense. I forwarded
the email on to Tom to get his take.

-Sarah
The following is the complete email exchange:
====================
Hello, Leslie:

Sarah forwarded me your email after I asked her to invite the Wounded
Warriors Project to join me on "Tom Gresham's Gun Talk" radio show.

I'm stunned at your email saying that the WWP doesn't participate in
an interview or activity related to firearms. Inasmuch as there are 90
million gun owners and most of them support wounded veterans, I think
they would be shocked to hear that they are, by way of their hobbies,
somehow not worthy of helping with the Wounded Warriors Project.

Does your policy apply also to police agencies and the military, since
they are "related to firearms?"

I'm hoping that we have misunderstood your email. Can you confirm that
it is, in fact, an official policy of the Wounded Warriors Project to
not do interviews with or participate in any activity related to
firearms?

Thank you.
Tom Gresham
============

Good afternoon -

While we appreciate your interest in Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP)
you are correct that we decline the media opportunity.

Please note the following notice that appears on our website which
also applies to WWP public awareness policy and inquiries from media
outlets:

<http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/additional-opportunities.aspx>
http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org...rtunities.aspx

WWP does not co-brand, create cause marketing campaigns or receive a
percentage or a portion of proceeds from companies in which the
product or message is sexual, political or religious in nature, or
from alcohol or firearms companies.

Thank you for your inquiry.
LESLIE A. COLEMAN
public relations director
O: 904.405.1433
M: 904.654.8138
F: 904.296.7347
Wounded Warrior Project
4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300
Jacksonville, Florida 32256
====================

Thanks for confirming that, Leslie. It was a simple opportunity to
promote the WWP on a national program in an effort to send donations
your way.

I'll pass along the info that you don't want or need the help of
America's gun owners.

Best regards,
Tom Gresham
=====================

Good morning --

This policy is not a judgment on those who own and use firearms –
clearly every member of our armed forces has been trained in the use
of firearms and then called on to use them in the course of their
service to this country.

Our position regarding firearms and alcohol is in response to the
struggles that many injured service members face with substance abuse
and suicide and the roles those items often play in those issues.

Thank you.
LESLIE A. COLEMAN
public relations director
=============================

Hello, Leslie:

Thank you for that explanation.

I do think -- and I'm being as kind as possible -- that it's the
nuttiest thing I've heard in years. Suicides are not linked to
firearms. Japan has a much higher rate of suicide than does the U.S.,
and they have essentially no firearms. Suicide is a serious issue
irrespective of the methodology used.

This explanation doesn't pass even the most simple "does this make
sense" test.

Your policy does, in fact, brand firearms and the companies which make
them as undesirables, and by association, you are saying that those
who own and use firearms for recreation, hunting, self protection, and
other safe and legal uses are to be avoided.

It's certainly your option to ostracize the firearms industry, the 90
million gun owners in America, and the media which support firearms
safety training.

At this point, I feel an obligation to make sure the millions who
listen to my radio show and watch my two national television series
know about your policy.

I cannot fully express how much I feel you are doing a disservice to
our wounded veterans, and how disappointed I am to discover this bias
at the Wounded Warriors Project.

Sincerely,
Tom Gresham

The only gifts my wife and I gave out last year were cards reading, "A
generous donation has been made to Wounded Warrior Project in your
name. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Joyous New Year, J.D. &
Lois Kinman."

You can bet your last dollar we won't be sending those out this year.
We're done with Wounded Warrior Project.

Hypocrites


Thanks

Ron

Oh how I enjoy seeing old threads being resurrected by single digit posters with cut-n-paste talking points!


Just sayin'


Wounded Warrior Project reverses position, ‘welcomes’ Gun Talk 'opportunity'

http://www.examiner.com/article/woun...lk-opportunity

After controversial refusal, Wounded Warrior Project CEO to appear on Gun Talk

http://www.examiner.com/article/afte...ar-on-gun-talk

From the town so nice, they named it twice! :D
And the home of the Wishy-Washy Washing Machine Company of Walla Walla Washington.

(Nice town, actually.)

Dozer... Bugs loves you for remembering his immortal words...:rolleyes:

Wobbly Wobble
 

Gotta start somewhere. I support WWP and I did not know that they had changed their views..
The weather is nice in Wally World.. Snow in the mountains...

Ron

I am not sure "they" changed their views as much as their legal-eagles were trying to be just a little too "PC" for their target audience…I say give the CEO a chance to play the apologizer and see what they do.

I think one fact rises above the fray…their main mission is to help our Warriors! And they seem to have a pretty decent track record doing just that…we just get so “one issue focused” that we are ready to toss out the baby with the bath water.

However if readers of PS.com are still conflicted I will shill for Special Operations Warrior Foundation

http://www.specialops.org/

They are 4 star rated (out of 4) http://www.charitynavigator.org/inde...ary&orgid=7584

Did you see what Wounded Warriors are rated at?

I think there is more than one reason not to support them with your dollars.

TR

Some more follow-up here.
http://www.gunssavelife.com/?p=3467

This story made a number of the gun blogs last week.

Well fu¢# 'em then!:D



http://guntalk.libsyn.com/guntalk-2012-11-18-part-a

Well after listening to the whole thing...I had to change the font! Seems like we always want to drag someone down...bottom line: they are trying to support Wound Warriors. Somehow that has been turned into a bad thing. The Gun Show host sounds like an ass with an ax to grind!

I was looking to support them for CFC this year until I found out their operating cost is at 40.9% vs many other worthy charities operating at 3-5%.I decided my money would go to the Fisher House this year.

Continued Support
 

I still support Wounded Warrior Project. I have every year for some time.. I do think that there are some things to consider and one is how they utilize their money.. I have looked at charitynavigator.com and it confirms what has been said her. I have encouraged others at work to support WWP. I am not sorry, but I will tell them "the rest of the story".
http://www.charitynavigator.org/inde...ry&orgid=12842

From
Ron
of
Wally World