Empty Envelope Delivered to Veterans Charity By Fraud

Empty promise: Local veterans charity thought big gift was coming
KGW NBC News
Kyle Iboshi
Published on July 31, 2017

LIFT FOR THE 22 HAD NEVER RECEIVED SUCH A LARGE DONATION IN ITS TWO YEARS OF EXISTENCE. THE FUNDS WOULD ALLOW THE NONPROFIT TO PAY FOR THE 350 VETS WHO WERE WAITING FOR GYM MEMBERSHIPS.

PORTLAND, Ore. — It was a donation that would change everything. A Gresham man promised to contribute $425,000 to a nonprofit organization that provides gym memberships to veterans. The Beaverton-based charity, Lift For The 22, celebrated the announcement with a check presentation streamed live on its Facebook page.

“This is going to take us to the next level,” said Lift For The 22 co-founder Dennis Wright as he received an envelope from Garyn Bowen. The 22-year-old Bowen said he was a wealthy business owner who wanted to help the program by providing cash, connections and access to his corporate jet.

In reality, the envelope was empty. Bowen never delivered the money.

“I figured the guy must be doing something right to donate that kind of money,” said Robert Sanders, who met Bowen at the gym. “It was all made up. It was all a lie.”
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