Scam Veteran Organization Alert, Jacksonville Florida

Scam "vet" organization is running around Jacksonville, FL...be alert
'Veterans Support Organization", they are a 501 (c) 3 but they keep 2/3 of the donations for themselves.

1 member likes this

Comment

You need to be a member of My VFW WebCOM to add comments!

Join My VFW WebCOM

Comment by John Holzbaur on August 6, 2012 at 9:32pm: http://courantblogs.com/investigative-reporting/charity-check-veter...

here's an article from May detailing a formal complaint to the Federal Trade Commission regarding Veterans Support Organization.

Quote: "The senators and House members also expressed alarm at the group’s finances, noting that VSO collected $5.8 million in fiscal year 2010, but spent only $379,000 on grants to veterans and veteran groups." endquote..

Comment by John Holzbaur on August 6, 2012 at 9:29pm: I am not yelling anything. There are dozens of reputable news articles over recent months documenting this organization and its unscrupulous methods.

Comment by John Holzbaur on August 6, 2012 at 9:28pm: They are legal in the straight interpretation of a 501 (c) 3, but the organization is under investigation and typically moves or folds when the legal pressures mount.

As to the woman in the video, she was a volunteer, which is what was at the root of the matter. She volunteered to help Veterans.

If you believe that Veterans, or folks wearing uniforms, panhandling for donations and directly pocketing 30% of the donations under the notion of "helping Veterans" then we agree to disagree.

Comment by John E Burgess on August 6, 2012 at 9:24pm: talk in the chat room

Comment by John E Burgess on August 6, 2012 at 9:21pm: Your yelling Smoke...............were is the fire?

Comment by John E Burgess on August 6, 2012 at 9:20pm: The question is why can't we shut them down?

Comment by John Holzbaur on August 6, 2012 at 8:57pm: I contacted the VA and the local Veterans Justice Outreach Coordinator said Veterans Support Organization is not on the accredited VSO list.

Comment by John Holzbaur on August 6, 2012 at 8:51pm: Look at the Tax reporting FORM 990, the President, Richard Van Houten, paid himself $255,698 last year.

http://tcpalmextras.com/wordpress/veterans/2011/02/09/panhandling-o...

Here's another article from South Florida.

The people collecting keep 30% of what they collect. Even if they aren't Veterans.

Comment by John Holzbaur on August 6, 2012 at 8:42pm: http://www.wtsp.com/news/topstories/article/227332/250/Fundraiser-q...

John, here's a link to an expose by a Tampa television station 8 months ago. The stats are pretty damning:

Only 7% of the proceeds make it to Veterans. Look at where they spend their money.

Vets have to decide, and many organizations have outright decried these people, if VSO represents the values of Veterans Organizations.