WOUNDED WARRIOR PROJECT

[Warrior-Mentor]

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.

[Warrior-Mentor]

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

Just curious...

[Z731]

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

[longrange1947]

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.

[Snaquebite]

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 ?

[jasonglh]

Sir, from their FAQ:

Q. How was the organization founded and by whom?

The organization was founded by John Melia, Jim Melia (Johns brother), John F. Melia (Johns father), Al Giordano and Steven Nardizzi. John Melia is a former Marine who was injured in a helicopter crash in Somalia. Jim Melia is a former Army officer who currently is a special agent with the FBI. John F. Melia is a retired colonel from the US Army. Al Giordano, a former Marine, is currently the National Service Director of the Wounded Warrior Project. Steven Nardizzi is an attorney with over 10 years experience working with veterans.

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

[Snaquebite]

Thanks,

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

[jasonglh]

Originally Posted by Snaquebite

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

[CoLawman]

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.

[Snaquebite]

Thanks for the additional info...

[Warrior-Mentor]

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

[Warrior-Mentor]

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?

[x SF med]

"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.

[Gypsy]

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

[112thSOLCA]

x-SF-med said

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

.

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).