Posted on 03/19/2010 8:23:56 PM PDT by Wpin
Edited on 03/19/2010 8:55:59 PM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
March 18, 2010
Dear Friends of Freedom Alliance:
This week, false and malicious allegations about Freedom Alliance were posted on the Internet and we want to address them with you. We don't know the motivation for these vicious smears, but we will not allow them to go unanswered.
First, we want to thank you for your support and assure you that Freedom Alliance's record of financial stewardship and programmatic achievements not only meets, but exceeds standards of program efficiency set by most charity evaluators. We are extraordinarily proud of our work at Freedom Alliance and stand by our efforts 100 percent.
False Accusations
1. The blog posting accuses our friend Sean Hannity of personally benefiting from Freedom Alliance. This is FALSE. Freedom Alliance has never provided planes, hotels, cars, limos, or anything else to Sean. Sean gets nothing from Freedom Alliance except our gratitude for his personal generosity and for all he has done to help the troops and our organization. We have never had to ask Sean for anything, he always generously offers his help before we have a chance to ask him. But to be clear Sean pays for all his own transportation, hotels, and all related expenses for himself and his family and friends and staff, which over the years has added up to tens of thousands of dollars. He does not use any Freedom Alliance Funds or Concert funds in any way, period.
2. Sean Hannity has contributed $100,000 to the Wounded Warriors Foundation, over $200,000 to the Freedom Alliance, and over tens of thousands of dollars to other military charities and individuals. We only make this information public because of the outrageous slander against him. Sean has no management or operational involvement in, or control over, Freedom Alliance. He has been a selfless patriot in his efforts to raise funds for the education of children of armed services personnel.
3. The blog posting accuses Freedom Alliance of spending less than 20% of money raised on program activities. This is FALSE. Listed below are the amounts that Freedom Alliance spent for each of the past three years and the categories on which they were spent. The figures are taken from our Federal Form 990 which is filed with the Internal Revenue Service and posted on our web site and audited by an independent auditor using Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. This financial record not only meets, but exceeds standards of program efficiency set by most charity evaluators.
4. In 2008, Freedom Alliance spent a total of $6,745,717. Of that:
• 79 percent ($5,317,970) was spent on Program Activities
•14 percent ($945,950) was spent on Fundraising
•7 percent ($481,797) was spent on Management
In 2007, Freedom Alliance spent a total of $7,461,350. Of that:
• 81.5 percent ($6,084,474) was spent on Program Activities
• 13.5 percent ($1,011,501) was spent on Fundraising
• 5 percent ($365,375) was spent on Management
In 2006, Freedom Alliance spent a total of $7,064,839. Of that:
• 77 percent ($5,434,538) was spent on Program Activities
• 18.5 percent ($1,308,414) was spent on Fundraising
• 4.5 percent ($321,887) was spent on Management
5. The blog posting accuses Freedom Alliance of spending money intended for student scholarships on other expenses. This is FALSE. Freedom Alliance has distributed $3.4 million in Scholarships and created a Scholarship Trust Fund with the additional money that we have raised for that program. That fund now contains $15 million, over $10 million of which has been raised by Hannity and the concerts. Our scholarship program is managed with the understanding that it will be needed for at least the next 20 years as there are children who will ultimately receive a scholarship who are now only a few years old. As indicated on our Federal Form 990, these funds are restricted and used only for future scholarships.
6. Our Scholarship Fund is one of four programs operated by Freedom Alliance. Supporters may donate to a specific program or for general operating purposes. In 2008, Freedom Alliance received $2.1 million in scholarship donations. The same year, we awarded $802,250 in scholarships and applied $1.3 million to our Scholarship Trust Fund. The funds donated by Sean Hannity directly -- or through the proceeds of the Freedom Concerts -- and the support of thousands of Americans are used for these purposes:
• Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund: Providing scholarships to those whose parents have been killed or severely injured in their service to our Country. There is now over $15 million in the scholarship fund for the students as they come of age.
• Support our Troops: Many events each year are planned and executed by our staff to show appreciate and provide special opportunities for those actively serving in the military.
• Leadership Academy: A program for high school students in which they are encouraged and trained to serve their country.
These programs would not be possible without the support of Mr. Hannity and many others.
We are proud of our work and numerous accomplishments. We are grateful to our supporters whose voluntary contributions make it possible and we thank you. While it is discouraging to have our record misrepresented in such a malicious way, our work is important and, with your support, it will continue.
Respectfully,
Thomas P. Kilgannon, President
Oliver L. North, Founder & Honorary Chairman
I read the allegations here yesterday and it has been really bothering me all day. I’m not a big Hannity fan but I couldn’t figue out why someone, who I thought was a conservative, would attack Hannity and Freedom Alliance that way. Thanks for the post.
“Sorry this is difficult to read, it didn’t format correctly and I am too tired to correct it all. I and son am on the road to DC for tomorrow’s protest, been driving for 11 hours and am a little cross-eyed.”
Nice work. Good job. Give them hell tomorrow.
FA ping!
I think the entire point of Schlussell (or however you spell her name) was that “Program Activities” amount. This letter claims in 2008 that $945,950 was spent on fundraising, however the tax returns state that over a $1,000,000 was spent on postage and printing. So this all falls back to the expenses. Fine that $945,950 was spent on fundraising. Fine that $481,797 was spent on paying the management of the organization. However given that there are items in the millions (including “consultants” along with the postage/printing expenses), it’s obvious that the 81% of “Program Expenses” is not all going to the vets or orphans.
Therefore, they have not disputed Debbie’s claim of a small percentage of the charity income going to the actual recipients.
Schlussel is a flippin retard, apparently.
I have no idea how in the hell you are getting what you posted out of their reply. I seriously doubt if you have a clue about what you are talking about anyway.
Go to Charity Navigator website, an independent charity rating organization and look at what they have...
------------------------------------------------------
Dear Friends of Freedom Alliance:
This week, false and malicious allegations about Freedom Alliance were posted on the Internet and we want to address them with you. We don’t know the motivation for these vicious smears, but we will not allow them to go unanswered.
First, we want to thank you for your support and assure you that Freedom Alliance’s record of financial stewardship and programmatic achievements not only meets, but exceeds standards of program efficiency set by most charity evaluators. We are extraordinarily proud of our work at Freedom Alliance and stand by our efforts 100 percent.
False Accusations
1. The blog posting accuses our friend Sean Hannity of personally benefiting from Freedom Alliance. This is FALSE. Freedom Alliance has never provided planes, hotels, cars, limos, or anything else to Sean. Sean gets nothing from Freedom Alliance except our gratitude for his personal generosity and for all he has done to help the troops and our organization. We have never had to ask Sean for anything, he always generously offers his help before we have a chance to ask him. But to be clear Sean pays for all his own transportation, hotels, and all related expenses for himself and his family and friends and staff, which over the years has added up to tens of thousands of dollars. He does not use any Freedom Alliance Funds or Concert funds in any way, period.
2. Sean Hannity has contributed $100,000 to the Wounded Warriors Foundation, over $200,000 to the Freedom Alliance, and over tens of thousands of dollars to other military charities and individuals. We only make this information public because of the outrageous slander against him. Sean has no management or operational involvement in, or control over, Freedom Alliance. He has been a selfless patriot in his efforts to raise funds for the education of children of armed services personnel.
3. The blog posting accuses Freedom Alliance of spending less than 20% of money raised on program activities. This is FALSE. Listed below are the amounts that Freedom Alliance spent for each of the past three years and the categories on which they were spent. The figures are taken from our Federal Form 990 which is filed with the Internal Revenue Service and posted on our web site and audited by an independent auditor using Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. This financial record not only meets, but exceeds standards of program efficiency set by most charity evaluators.
4. In 2008, Freedom Alliance spent a total of $6,745,717. Of that:
5. The blog posting accuses Freedom Alliance of spending money intended for student scholarships on other expenses. This is FALSE. Freedom Alliance has distributed $3.4 million in Scholarships and created a Scholarship Trust Fund with the additional money that we have raised for that program. That fund now contains $15 million, over $10 million of which has been raised by Hannity and the concerts. Our scholarship program is managed with the understanding that it will be needed for at least the next 20 years as there are children who will ultimately receive a scholarship who are now only a few years old. As indicated on our Federal Form 990, these funds are restricted and used only for future scholarships.
6. Our Scholarship Fund is one of four programs operated by Freedom Alliance. Supporters may donate to a specific program or for general operating purposes. In 2008, Freedom Alliance received $2.1 million in scholarship donations. The same year, we awarded $802,250 in scholarships and applied $1.3 million to our Scholarship Trust Fund. The funds donated by Sean Hannity directly -- or through the proceeds of the Freedom Concerts -- and the support of thousands of Americans are used for these purposes:
These programs would not be possible without the support of Mr. Hannity and many others.
We are proud of our work and numerous accomplishments. We are grateful to our supporters whose voluntary contributions make it possible and we thank you. While it is discouraging to have our record misrepresented in such a malicious way, our work is important and, with your support, it will continue.
Respectfully,
Thomas P. Kilgannon President
Oliver L. North Founder & Honorary Chairman
--------------------------------------------------
Letter can found at:
http://www.freedomalliance.org/images/pdf_and_largepics/freedom_alliance_response.pdf
Thank you Sister_T, you are an angel. I love your profile page...I am a huge Jaws fan myself...and I do think we may need a bigger boat to beat these dang democrats back from ruining our nation!
Freedom Alliance Statement on Debbie Schlussel Attack
See also:
I’ve read most of this stuff for the last two days and I’m siding with you on this.
Sean is very wealthy. I doubt he pockets any money. I never got the impression either that he lent his name to this for ego. I think he’s the real deal and it means something deep to him personally.
That Debbie woman has always been a hateful shrew. I can’t figure her out except to say professional jealousy maybe ? I’ve seen her articles posted here and I get the feeling she wants attention. Her info most times is wrong and she takes on others in a less than a lady like way.
I’m am not a Hannity fan, I don’t watch his show, have listened to his radio program while traveling.
Unless there is other proof, I think this stinks. It’s mean and hateful. I’d like to know why the woman wrote what she wrote.
Schlussel attacks and lies about conservatives all the time...
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2420089/posts
Debbie Schlussel Attacks Steven Crowder without Justification (Conservative Cannibalism)
|
December 26, 2009
I haven’t gone back to read the 990 but my recollection is the absolute numbers for scholarship being less than 10%.
How could they accumulate $15 million with the expenses they have?
Moreover, on $12 million in revenue it cost them $10 million to operate before a profit could result and disbursements could take place?
I like Sean and it is clear from the 990 tax forms he has no operational role in Freedom Alliance but, the shear dollars spent to operate this organization are baffling.
Schlussel is apparently becoming a RINO ... always had her pegged as a Conservative, but the last few years she’s been fighting with Talk Radio Conservatives with more and more frequency.
I think she’s Losing it, either way.
bttt
More here:
http://corner.nationalreview.com/
Friday, March 19, 2010
http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=Yjk5YjMyNmZlMmQ2MWRlZjczNjU1MTdiYjkxMWVmY2U=
This Is a Real Shame [Kathryn Jean Lopez]
I’ve long admired the fact that Sean Hannity has devoted so much time the summer concerts, etc. to the Freedom Alliance’s scholarships for children of military heroes who have been injured or killed in the service of freedom. Freedom Alliance and Sean have been subjected to some attacks in recent days. Freedom Alliance has responded and their letter is below:
[snip]
I know both Tom and Ollie personally. They are both the type of men you would trust to write checks out for your elderly mother and never think twice about. They are both of the highest character and this non sense should stop her and now.
The charity runs summer camps - much of the administrative costs listed on the IRS forms is for the people running the camps. The charity sends tens of thousands of gift boxes overseas every year - that is what postage and supplies are for. The charity sends families to see their wounded in hospitals overseas and in DC - those are counted as travel expenses on the IRS forms. The charity gives out scholarships from their scholarship trust fund as kids apply for them - the money donated for that is put into an investment trust.
Does that help?
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=6590
As far as charities go, Freedom Alliance has a high rating compared to many.
Not for nothing but where did you source all that?
I think people believe if you question this charity operation, then you question the morality of Oliver North or Sean Hannity. While Sean annoys the crap out of me as a listener, I don’t think he’s evil or a con. (I do want verification that he provides his own expenses as HE CLAIMS on his show though) And I certainly don’t think that way of Colonel North.
However I’ve seen many charities start out with good intentions and end up getting people who skim off the top until it wittles down what is actually going to the people the charity is designed for. Just human nature and if it’s the case, it needs to be addressed before people stop donating and the soldiers’ families are the ones who suffer from it.
Please stop thinking those who question Freedom Alliance as attacking the individuals. I know I am not, I am saying that the numbers don’t add up. If it says right there on the tax forms that $1.4 million was spent on postage and printing alone, and only $945,000 was allotted as “fundraising”, then it’s obvious that postage and printing is INCLUDED in the “Program Expenses” slot. If that is the case, what other “expenses” are put into that slot and how much of the “Program Expenses” are actually GIVEN TO THE PEOPLE?
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