Gift a Vet Charity Can't Back Up Claims Donations Go To Veterans

NBC Bay Area ^ | Thursday, Aug 13, 2015 | Vicky Nguyen and David Paredes

[2ndDivisionVet]

Even a real veteran is not allowed to wear the uniform except in certain limited circumstances.

[Catmom]

Too many “charities” exploit the natural desire many people have to give back to those who risk their lives for others.

Using a website like Charity Navigator is a good way to make sure such donations are not being wasted.

[nickcarraway]

I talked to this man several times outside the supermarket, but I never gave him money. I am no expert, but to me, his “uniform” appeared to be in some kind of military style, but not an actual uniform. Anyway, it didn’t look like any uniform of a U.S. service I’ve seen, so he may not be actually breaking the law on that front. And when I asked him if he served, he said he never had, but he’d worked for the DOD.

[Jet Jaguar]

Active Duty/Retiree/Vet ping.

[UCANSEE2]

“Guidestar data reveals there are 45,429 non-profits in the U.S. that serve veterans.”

Oddly, the percent of money that actually goes to veterans is about the same as the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.

[nickcarraway]

Ping

[UCANSEE2]

but he’d worked for the DOD.

As what... a janitor ?

[nickcarraway]

No, I think he said he was an economist or something. He said he was from New York and he had played college or semi-pro hockey in upstate New York.

[Organic Panic]

If you study results veterans’ charities have some of the lowest pass through of all charities. Give direct to local charities you can hold accountable.

[nickcarraway]

I always vet charities. Not just that they are legitimate, but that most of their money is used for the alleged purpose. Some charities it’s 10% or less. And they are, “legitimate.”

[rikkir]

Please tell me this guy is about to be arrested for fraud.

[Vendome]

I hate those lyin mthrfkrs.

[Mastador1]

Sorry, but I never ever give money to these clowns with their xeroxed placards and ammo can/tackle box collection devices. When I see an obvious person in need I try to help them out, but there are way too many scammers out there and standing at off ramps playing on the sympathies of people.Last year there was a twenty something in decent clothes holding a sign at an off ramp claiming he was a Desert Storm Vet and asking for help.

[Talisker]

Scammers.

[airborne]

Sadly, scumbags like this take advantage of a public willing to give to veterans causes - most without a second thought of whether or not this cause is legitimate.

Or how much of their donation actually gets to a veteran in need.

The group I belong to, Paralyzed Veterans of America, has a national organization and local Chapters (mine being the Keystone Chapter).

While I appreciate the work our National representatives do, I tell potential donors that if they want to help local veterans, donate to a local organization.

And while I won't turn down donations to my own Chapter, I've been pointing out a cause that is becoming an epidemic for veterans.

Veteran suicide.

EVERY DAY 22 veterans commit suicide!

So I would suggest anyone looking to help veterans find out where they can help with a local veterans suicide prevention effort and donate their time.

To a veteran in crisis, having someone to talk with is worth more than money can buy.

[bikerman]

American Legion 100% goes to Vets.

[Gaffer]

Where does the 128K number come from?

[Antoninus II]

It has to be scrubbed. No rank, unit, branch insignia. I wear my field jacket with name badge only. It’s just an olive drab jacket like worn by “Rambo, John J?”.

[Grampa Dave]

Two similar encounters.

One was one of these creeps outside a major retailer. A friend, a retired vet, challenged the creep and got the store manager to ask the creep to leave after his poor responses.

Another was a guy supposedly running an outdoor experience for disabled vets. His website failed my Norton Safe Search, and when I brought this up to him, his emails to me stopped.