Posted on 02/14/2023 4:02:54 AM PST by GunHoardingCapitalist
I have seen a huge rising of so called veterans support groups, from service dogs to PTSD groups. What can we trust on the interwbs to be actually sincere or just a hoax to gain money and change the business name after honest people have given funds too?
In August I am planning my final professional race, but I want 100% of any winnings or sponsorship money to go to true veteran charaties where help is needed not tied up. Is Mission 22 or Veteran service dogs a proper place to donate to?
I know what you mean. It is hard to trust just about anything.
My family has given a lot to military causes in the last several decades, but we have just one we might donate to now:
Fisher House Foundation.
They do stellar work.
I used to give to the Navy and Marine Corps Relief Fund, but I was told it was being used to support single (not the surviving spouse “single”) and minority mothers and such.
VFW Home for Orphan Children (of military parents) in Michigan.
Locals, to be utterly honest, are the only ones you can trust to see most of that money go to actually helping veterans. My local group is https://www.yubasutterveterans.org/ - they’re into everything, from food distribution to annual stand downs to veteran’s parades to putting flags and wreaths on veteran’s graves.
Agree with RLMorel that Fisher House is probably the most legit of the "Veteran" charities. Unfortunately, most big charities use only a small percentage of their take on actual charity work and spend huge amounts on generous salaries for themselves and yet more for advertising.
I had my own run-in with the "Vietnam Veterans of Virginia" a few years ago when the company that they used to fund raise thought it would be a great idea to call my home phone 2-3 times a day, sometimes very late at night to force me to give them money.
I finally had some time on my hands, so I found the leading officers of Xertex, the jerks calling me every day and the head of the VVV and called them at home several times a day to get their minds right.
They haven't bothered me since then.
Nice to hear from you, Chainmail.
Ugh. That is the thing I despise these days about being charitable, is that you get punished for doing so by the people you donate to. And they all do it, although I will say, Fischer House is the only one I don’t get these things from, which makes me want to donate further to them. (Not to mention the unbelievably generous and no-strings-attached way they treated veterans at Walter Reed during GWII, something I was privileged to both participate in and be invited to see with my own eyes)
I understand why many charitable organizations think they should harass donors. I just hate that they do it. It isn’t that people “forget” they gave money them, that doesn’t happen. But they treat you as if you did.
I gave money last year to Project Veritas, I just had to, after watching their expose of CNN when they somehow got the number of their weekly status call with the CNN “leadership” that included Jeff Zucker. It so hilariously revealed the scumbaggery at the corporate levels of CNN that I very nearly donated on the spot.
But since then, I must have received hundreds of emails and mailings for more money.
It is discouraging. I gave money with the caveat that I did not want to be included in email spamming or junk mailing, but...that was like spitting in the wind.
Once they get money from you, they double the email spamming and junk mailing.
Look at your local VA groups. Go to them directly for sponsorship. Make sure you have a list of groups you want to donate to. They are usually more than happy to help.
Do NOTHING online.
I dealt with Mr Fisher while assigned to Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center. The charity does great work, but he was arrogant and demanding, insisting a military physician be assigned to him to travel on his private airplane. Let a bad taste in my mouth.
Colonel, USAF JAGC ( Ret)
“Mr. K home for Wayward Girls”
Trust me ;)
Most States have Veteran’s Homes that need everything - The Indiana Vets Home in Lafayette was built after the Civil War.
We would buy stuff for the guys - most wanted white socks - shaving stuff - Kleenex- items not provided by the State. In the old days everyone wanted cigarettes!
Ask the Home what they need and but it for them instead of giving cash.
Try doing a search on which organizations spend 100% of donations on veterans. Some organizations only spend 5% on Veterans.
5
I looked at your profile and didn’t see your state flag flying.
But it would suggest you donate locally.
The veteran organization im working with locally in PA is the Paralyzed Veterans of America - www.kpva.org and our national organization is www.pva.org
Gah.
I hate that. I cannot stand prima donnas, especially in this context.
I fully understand how that would leave a bad taste anyone’s mouth to experience that first-hand.
That said, I usually try to judge these kinds of things empirically, from what they produce. In that aspect, they have indeed produced.
TUNNELS TO TOWERS FOUNDATION
Thank you for that suggestion. I did not have any knowledge of them.
I see that you encourage donations to smaller organizations, and I have been gravitating to that myself. The big ones seem to be getting more woke, and are progressing towards the organizations that exist only to keep themselves going, and the point of the spear is less important.
That makes a lot of sense to me. I may investigate this when I retire. I was thinking of offering my services to drive veterans to their medical procedures and appointments, but this sounds like it might be an outlet that calls me as well.
One of my sponsors is my Local American Legion, I have helped raised close to a Million for charities through them over the last 20+ years. I kinda want to go bigger than just local since I am one of the few vets left in the community, so fundraising would seem like moving money from the left pocket to the right.
Thats why im reaching out and getting opinions on proper charities not ones that prosper on the good will message and generosity we still are willing to give our Country and battle-buddies.
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