Posted on 01/12/2019 8:13:28 AM PST by Kaslin
The GoFundMe campaign that generated $20 million in private donations is being shutdown and those who donated are being refunded their money unless they decide to donate it to a newly-established 501(c)4.
Brian Kolfage, the veteran who started the campaign, on Friday posted the following message on the campaign's website:
Eight days before Christmas I started this GoFundMe campaign because I was tired of watching the U.S. government’s inability to secure our southern border. Like most Americans, I see the porous southern border as a national security threat and I refuse to allow our broken political system to leave my family and my country vulnerable to attack.
The plan of action was simple and straightforward to raise money to construct a wall on our southern border. We have raised over $20 Million from 325,000 plus donors and we are only just getting started! I have been literally overwhelmed and inspired by the outpouring of support, calls, and emails from American citizens who support our efforts to Build the Wall. I got some hate as well but that was easy to ignore with all the positive feedback I was getting. I immediately sought out and consulted with some of our country's leading professionals in law, politics, national security, construction, and finance. This team has spent countless hours over the holidays reviewing all issues pertaining to the construction of a southern border wall. Unanimously, we have all come to the conclusion that:
-The federal government won’t be able to accept our donations anytime soon.
-We are better equipped than our own government to use the donated funds to build an actual wall on the southern border.
-Our highly experienced team is highly confident that we can complete significant segments of the wall in less time, and for far less money, than the federal government, while meeting or exceeding all required regulatory, engineering, and environmental specifications.
-Our team strongly believes that we can complete our segments of the wall for less than half of the government’s estimated costs on a per mile basis.
IF YOU WANT TO SUPPORT & BUILD THE BORDER WALL OPT-IN CLICK HERE!!!
To show the government how “We the People” can get this done, we have formed a Section 501(c)(4) non-profit Florida Corporation named “We Build the Wall, Inc.” to receive the GoFundMe contributions. Our website can be found at www.webuildthewall.us.
The following individuals serve on the on the advisory board, and construction, finance, and or audit committees, operations, administration, PR, Media and ongoing fundraising:
www.webuildthewall.us/team
Brigadier General Dr. Robert S. Spalding III
Industrialist John Daniel Moran, Jr.
Ex-Navy SEAL and businessman Erik Prince,
Former Secretary of State of Kansas Kris Kobach,
Angel Mom Mary Ann Mendoza
Law enforcement and immigration expert Sheriff David Clarke
Fox news contributor and border security expert Sara A. Carter
Former Colorado Congressman and presidential candidate Tom Tancredo
Angel Dad Steve Ronnebeck
Media consultant and journalist Jennifer Lawrence
and many others
IF YOU WANT TO SUPPORT & BUILD THE BORDER WALL OPT-IN CLICK HERE!!!
We have made significant progress in less than a month. We have begun extensive due diligence and the commencement of feasibility studies engaging leading experts in a variety of fields necessary to construct our border wall. These professionals have provided us with critical guidance on the legal, engineering, contracting, environmental, accounting, maintenance, and real estate issues required to build a wall on the southern border.
We are already taking action on:
-Identifying the most densely crossed areas of the border
-Soliciting affected landowners along the Southern border
-Studying the most feasible solutions based on terrain, barrier styles, environmental impact and efficacy
-Ascertaining the willingness of border landowners to provide no or low-cost easements on their property for wall construction
If the Democrats won't provide the funding for what the American people voted for in 2016 then we the people will. When Americans see us completing real miles of beautiful wall, we know that we will raise the many billions we need to finally secure the entire border. I am 100% committed to secure our southern border and protect Americans.
There is a lot of work ahead of us, but this has never deterred me in the past. With the help of our highly experienced team, and your support, we will make this work!
The Articles of Incorporation and Mission Statement of We Build The Wall, Inc. make delivering on my promise to get a wall on the southern border built the clear objective and purpose of the organization.
“Our mission is to unite private citizens that share a common belief in providing national security for our Southern Border through the construction, administration and maintenance of physical barriers inhibiting illegal entry into the United States. In interpreting the purpose of the Corporation, the Board of Directors and Members of the Advisory Board will consider the impact of a proposed structure on a selected site’s environment and construct barriers primarily designed to prevent illegal access to the United States, rather than cause catastrophic injury. We will focus on building portions of a U.S. Southern Border wall and manage the support operations required for, and the processes associated with, the design, engineering, construction, and maintenance of the wall.”
100% of the funds raised on GoFundMe will be used in the execution of our mission and purpose. To honor the commitment, we made to our donors; all funds raised, less the processing fees and refunds, will be transferred to a special purpose account to carry out the purposes and mission of We Build the Wall, Inc. I will personally not take a penny of compensation from these donations.
When I created this fundraiser, I said if we did not reach our goal we will refund donors. I am honoring that commitment today. We will promptly refund your donation unless you tell us you approve our new plan for action.
I WANT TO BUILD THE WALL!
You MUST tell GoFundMe you still want to Build the Wall or your contribution will not be included in this historic project.
ACT NOW. CLICK HERE TO SAY YES! https://bit.ly/2SIQyBg
If you want a refund for your donation, no need to do anything. You will receive your refund a few weeks after the 90 days expires and GoFundMe will notify you once your refund has processed. If you would prefer a refund now, you can request that here: https://bit.ly/2smynWq
You can also contact GoFundMe here. You need to do this by April 10!
CHECK DONATIONS:
We Fund the Wall, Inc.
PO Box 131567 Houston, Texas 77219-1567
God Bless
The campaign was started on Dec. 16th and has generated more than $20 million. Campaign organizers plan to raise private funds to build the wall for cheaper than the government anticipated spending.
I clicked to have it re-directed — certainly to send a message. And who knows, a privately funded wall might help some families who have illegals running across their property all the time.
I think there were two GoFundMe s started for the wall.
My dad always told that “a fool and his money are soon parted” Looks like there are plenty of fools out there.
This will be demolished when the federal government wall is built.
Just say “No!”
Why are all of the stories about this saying that the money is being refunded. It is not! Donators are being given the choice of refunds or contribution to a new organization. I bet most of the money will go to the new organization (mine is). The media is trying to make it look like this is a failure and the money is being returned when it is simply taking a different direction. It is still an amazing achievement and will still result in wall being built.
Hey ten bucks is ten bucks.
Just think the “Clinton Foundation “.
kinda like confederate statues on private land - nobody could tear them down
Correct. Yes, it's Federal responsibility to protect the borders. But I don't agree that the Feds get to own all the fencing. What happens when the next batch of Communist poofs occupies the White House? Will they be able to hire enough goons and gangs from south of the border to topple the country--like Lenin with the 60 million gold marks the Germans paid him to take down Russia?
A wall on private property is AWESOME!!! Do we think some 0bama II would be itching to order all walls removed? Of course. But Moulon labe--Come and take it, baby!
No one in 1776 would have questioned the prudence of a man building a fence on his own property, just because the land beyond was in Canada or wherever. It's built into our liberties that this is a nation of independent owners.
Defense against foreign invasion. It's in the Constitution. I need to see my government care about that, and shoulder the responsibility.
It would be great if the govt would just get with the program and build the wall. However, there's nothing stopping private property owners from allowing this private wall to be built on their property. As a Texas large parcel landowner myself, I would imagine a lot of them would welcome it. It would just replace their existing fences.
PDJT is a successful builder so I’m not sure where Mr. Kolfage is coming from. Maybe there would inevitably be more “chefs” involved in building a government wall than Trump.
Insights welcome.
[[I don’t believe a private venture is capable of withstanding the multitude of lawsuits this project will generate.]]
Depends on where it’s built I would assume- if the landowners happily sell their land, then the people who buy it can put a private wall up on that land I would imagine- there might be some land use regulations- and some red tape- but it won’t be nearly as bad as the government trying to take land from people that don’t want to sell
But if landowners along the border want an effective (and expensive) wall now and the citizens of this country are willing to help them build it, why not? Why should we the people put up with the antics of Chuckie and Nazi and their band of dysfunctional democrats while thousands upon thousands of criminal invaders cross the borders daily. Who cares who builds the wall, as long as the wall gets built in a timely manner? Sometimes we the people have to drag the govt along, or perhaps ultimately we may have to create a new one!
I also think the real cost of the wall is vastly more than $5.7 billion by a long shot in the long run so I think the left will eventually hoodwink us again as in previous immigration battles.
IMHO, we are a citizen ruled nation, our military is staffed with citizen volunteers. Our freedoms and liberty were won with citizen volunteers in the American revolution.
The way I see it our politicians have failed us at every turn...they are disgusting, self-centered, pigs of greed and power for only themselves. They care neither for the safety & security of American citizens or the furloughed Federal Government workers. Both Democrats & Republicans are in the same boat.
Trump is far from perfect...but, at least, he stands for the American people coming first. Therefore, this wall funding by average American citizens in badly needed, for, if five to ten million or more Americans contribute they way they have been doing, with small donations, I can assure you the politicians of both parties will follow suit, in order to protect their low life, useless skins.
Support the Brian Kolfage Wall fund ...today, Americans. the time has arrived for the American people to take back their country from the human scum & vermin politicians of all political stripes!!! Support, our POTUS, Trump.....Build up the Wall Fund, Destroy our disgusting politicians!!!!
I agree and there is already in place a way to do this on our tax form 1040 that is being used by the government to accept donations. Currently, there is only one option for taxpayers to donate to and it's the national debt. The Bureau of the Fiscal Service may accept gifts donated to the United States Government to reduce debt held by the public. Acting for the Secretary of the Treasury, Fiscal Service may accept a gift of: Money, only on the condition that it be used to reduce debt held by the public. We need to ADD another option to the 1040 which allows Americans to donate money to build the border wall.
Ask your congressman and Senator to offer legislation adding the border wall to this provision. We the people should not be blocked from funding something that we want done if we are willing to pay for it. Congress keeping us from doing so is not constitutional as it goes against Article Four, Section Four which guarantees to the states a republican form of government.
A republican form of government is one whereby the people elect representatives to the big decision making table to REPRESENT the will of the people who elected them. If the will of the people is to build a wall and Congress refuses to do so, then the people should have the ability to bypass the will of congress and implement their wishes. Congress should have no say in how funds are spent which are donated for a specific purpose. Congress only has authority over the money in their budget. Donations in excess of this is not theirs. According to the U.S. Constitution, we the people are the ones in charge. If we are able to donate to one cause already, we should be able to add the wall as another cause. Let's get this done. How can they argue against us doing what we want done as a nation without looking like total fools? President Trump should ask them to add the wall to this provision as an option and make the political case for it.
To me, politically, THIS is the argument that needs to be made. It will put maximum pressure on congress to actually fund the wall if they see that the people will do it despite them. It's tax season. That wall would be paid for in full by April!
I’m not a lawyer, but I don’t believe a private venture is capable of withstanding the multitude of lawsuits this project will generate.
Why?
I think the plan is to built sections of the wall on the private land of owners who want the wall built there. Then all the illegals will be funneled through areas without the wall. Then the owners of the land who didn’t want a wall will suddenly want a wall on their property too.
So why any lawsuits?
Already redirected my $200 to their new venture...
+++++
Well I’m only in for $100 but I am likely to turn down the refund and support the new plan.
My biggest fear: The money will be burned up paying the lawyers to defend against Dem lawsuits to prevent “this unlawful, unconstitutional and anti-environmental construction project.
I’m going to give my OK to the new approach and look forward to Trump donating $100 million or so to it.
How would the Dems respond to something like that?
More lawyers?
“I think this was wrong-headed from the start....I need to see my government care about that, and shoulder the responsibility.”
I agree totally. But my beef is a little different:
We are already taxed to death - why should taxpayers fork out even more, just because the government is spending trillions of tax $$$ on all the wrong things?
We need to hold Congress accountable for how our already excessive tax remittances are being spent - not enable their gross misappropriations by volunteering yet more money to fund constitutionally mandated programs they fail to fund.
How is volunteering more money any different than advocating a tax increase?
Privitization is exactly what we need, but only in conjunction with commensurate tax rate cuts - if we privatize government functions AND overtax the private sector, the economy will sink like a rock.
Ronald Reagan said [paraphrasing]: “The federal government is like a teenager - if you want them to stop spending too much, take way their allowance”. He must be rolling over in his grave.
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