Wounded Warrior Project Complaint
Exhibit C has images from comments left on Facebook. Exhibit D is the lawsuit.
To: All,
Below you will find my opposition to Wounded Warrior Projects preliminary injunction.
Here is my declaration also filed today.
As of now there is no gag order issued.
I am willing to discuss this lawsuit until a gag order is issued.
Dean Graham
US Army Retired
(317) 610-9779
Declaration of Dean Graham
Exhibit 1
I, Dean Graham, state under penalty of perjury as follows:
1. I first would like to point out when the website was still operational (HIVI), I always had a disclaimer for people, stating clearly “I Leave it up to all Americans to investigate on your own; do not take my word for it ”The disclaimer can be seen on (WWP’s Exhibit B“Wounded Warrior Project is a Fraud”, Letter, Bullet #8) Webster’s dictionary says a fraud is defined as “: the crime of using dishonest methods to take something valuable from another person: a person who pretends to be what he or she is not in order to trick people: a copy of something that is meant to look like the real thing in order to trick people”. I further believe it is a provocative word and have apologized for using this word to describe WWP.
2.I am going to reply to some of the accusations leveled by Mr. Steve Nardizzi in his DECLARATION dated (November 26, 2013) using the corresponding numbers and letters to match his statements:
10.a. “(WWP) commercials do not mention anything (WWP does) to help the injured service members….”) the following commercial is the most commonly played on T.V. http://www.ispot.tv/ad/7Iio/wounded-warrior-project alan-featuring-trace-adkins.
I have listened to this commercial over and over and still do not understand what exactly they did if anything to help Alan. WWP does however show the most horrible pictures of our injured veterans, just like the ASPCA commercials for animals. Our heroes deserve much better treatment and are not pieces of meat to parade around our TV screens. WWP has recently adjusted their commercials to try and show a different light on the solicitations. I personally believe this lawsuit is the reason for these positive changes. I will be happy when not one more dime goes to any place, thing or person who does not directly help the injured veterans.
10. b. ”(WWP) has many paid board members; this is not legal according to their own company bylaws.”
This statement makes reference to a lavish trip that took place atthe Broadmore in Colorado. I was in no way implying they are directly paying their board members.
10. c. “(WWP) has multiple board members and employees who are former Veterans Administration employees, including the former head of the Veterans Administration. This allows the WWP to tap into federal grants that may not otherwise be available.”
In my exhibit # 5 it clearly shows Board Member Anthony Principi who is the Former Secretary of Veterans Affairs. This coupled with a paid lobbyist also contained in the 990, this leaves plenty to speculate. I would question why WWP needs a lobbyist in congress when you have so many veterans committing suicide each day over financial distress?
The Veterans Administration is over 2 years behind on compensation and pension claims for our heroes in Indiana. If WWP is lobbying for faster times in the V.A.it is not working. I really should leave it up to the proper agencies that look into these type organizations to investigate. If this lawsuit has taught me anything so far it is surely never follow your heart and soul into what you believe in, even when you are armed with the truth.
10. d. “(WWP) uses the Non-Disclosure agreements with actors and employees to keep them from the truth about where the money actually goes.”
I responded to this charge in the “Opposition to WWP’s Motion for Preliminary Injunction”.
10. e. “(WWP) is a for profit business, working under the umbrella of a non-profit. I believe they should be exposed for what they really are”
I made this statement after looking at WWP’s own 990 tax information, for example when you have total net assets of $36,392,589.00 in 2011 and total net assets of $101,438,851.00 in 2012 this return sounds more like a for profit. I know WWP has tried so hard to debunk these facts, but facts do not lie. Again I pose the question to the Court, why would a Non-Profit helping veterans end up with that much money in the bank at the end of the year?
10. f. (WWP) “Many caring people are duped into donating to WWP, believing their donations will really help injured veterans…Wounded Warrior Project is a fraud… that needs to be investigated immediately.
I continue to believe people need to look into the financial workings of WWP. I am not a tax professional, but I do have two eyes and my two eyes clearly show me either the Non-Profit laws allow non-profits to hoard bunches of money collected to helped injured veterans or the law does not allow it and it will be exposed in due time. I have not had one single person tell me after looking at WWP’s tax return they feel comfortable with what they do with their donations. People are pulling their donations because of this surplus, and I repeat once more too many of my brothers and sisters are committing suicide each day, when just a few dollars could have helped them. I would like to say that WWP and I have the same goal in mind for Veterans but this lawsuit has showed me that money does decide who lives and who does not live to fight another day. I would not change one thing about the exposure WWP received, they deserved for people to know where the money goes.
10.g. (WWP) is pulling the biggest Oke Doke ever pulled on the American Public.
I feel WWP has kept many good non-profits from getting off the ground by using an aggressive campaign of commercials, radio, movies, phone calls, mailings to solicit donations thus stripping funding for other great non-profits, without telling people what they really are donating for. The fact WWP currently holds approximately $100,000,000.00 in the bank as of 2012, is simply pitiful for those veterans waiting on compensation and pension decisions from the Veterans Administration. I believe there is no telling what this year’s tax return will show. I do believe, their own 990 tax form cost them whatever they lost, not my comments. I am a part of the American Public and I think this is not right. So many Americans want to help service members, I tell them to help a veteran directly so they know it made it directly to a hero.
10. h. (WWP) will not go quietly and has an army of lawyers on staff to punish all those who try and expose WWP.
I find this the easiest to prove as true, WWP has listed an army of lawyers on this case against me. During the last phone conference they had no less than six different people listening in. They are going to keep their cash cow on the backs of our nation’s heroes going for as long as they possibly can. I have not spoken one lie and would like to point out some inconsistencies in Mr. Nardizzi’s own declaration that WWP is not using donor funds to pay for legal expenses, when on their 990 they clearly show legal fees paid to the very law firm Kutak Rock who is prosecuting this case.
Smoke and mirrors will only work when the mirror is not broken. I do not trust Wounded Warrior Project and I believe their mirror has been broken. Their time has gone and this court can set the precedent for American and put non-profits like WWP on notice they will be held to a much higher standard. WWP is full of our nation’s heroes; I still cannot put my finger on why they would not come forward and agree with me. Could it be a Non Disclosure stands in the way or maybe the salaries and lavish outings are just too much to give up. I have given up my fight to expose them, and I am sure no matter the ruling in this court they will find some way to spin it to fit their needs and desires.
Dean Graham Dated
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
Dean Graham
U.S. Army Retired
Florida is looking at huge charities because of reporting done on some of the worst cases.
Non Profit Quarterly
Current state law requires charities to register, but not much else; the Herald says that the proposed legislation is sweeping, and includes in its proposals:As you can see, charities do not have to spend all the money on the cause they are raising funds for. It is up to us to take a good long look at their ratings as well as their tax filings. It is not enough for us to just assume they are giving all our money the way we want them to.
All charities will have to provide additional information, such as the names of their leaders, contact information and financial reports.
The state’s Division of Consumer Services will create an interactive database on its website to list information about each nonprofit, including any violations of state law.
Charities that fundraise more than $1 million a year will have to provide audited financial reports.
Nonprofits that receive more than $1 million but spend less than 25 percent on programming will have additional disclosure requirements: employee salaries, fundraising expenses, and details of family relationships with any business partners.
Non-profits that raise less than $25,000 a year, or have religious, education, or government exemptions, will have fewer requirements.
The state will have the right to ban nonprofits from operating in Florida if they are found in violation of regulations in other states.
Charities that emerge due to a natural disaster or tragedy and raise more than $100,000 will have to submit quarterly financial statements.
There will be new oversight of professional fundraisers, with the same requirements now required of telemarketers—a licensing fee and fingerprints for background checks, with people convicted of theft or fraud barred from working as professional solicitors.
When you see ads for the cause, especially on TV, someone is paying for that airtime. When you get contacted to donate to any charity, most of the time they are professional fundraisers. Someone is paying them to do it.
When I am contacted about WWP and the caller says they are a fraud I make it clear that they never say where the money is going or what they are doing. Guide Star gave them a Gold Star rating and reports their mission statement:
Mission Statement With the mission to honor and empower Wounded Warriors, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) is the hand extended to encourage warriors as they adjust to their new normal and achieve new triumphs. Offering 20 unique programs and services, WWP is equipped to serve warriors with every type of injury – from the physical to the invisible wounds of war. Each year, WWP serves tens of thousands of wounded veterans and their families through programs that engage, nurture their minds and bodies, and encourage their economic empowerment. WWP serves veterans and service members who incurred a physical or mental injury, illness, or wounded, co-incident to their military service on or after September 11, 2001 and their families. All WWP programs and services are offered free of charge.
Honor and Empower? Seems like that is being done pretty much for free all over the country topped off with the fact most of the time it is being done by Vietnam Veterans and their families. They are not included in on the veterans WWP will honor or empower.
Anyway, as you can see, they do not claim to be doing much at all. Their TV ads do not claim to be doing much either. I do not believe that qualifies this charity to be considered a fraud. If people can't read, research or pay attention, it is not WWP's fault. It is ours for getting a gushy feeling seeing the wounded on TV.
There are a lot of great charities out there. Search to read what they claim to do and who they do it for. Then decide if they meet your devotion. Want to help all veterans? Make sure they do as well. Want to help homeless veterans? Make sure that is what they are doing with the money. Want to help keep fundraisers in business? Check out how many money goes to them instead of the cause they are raising funds for.
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