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Author Topic: Army Charity Hoards Millions Meant to Help Veterans  (Read 2503 times)

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Offline Rebel

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Army Charity Hoards Millions Meant to Help Veterans
« on: February 22, 2009, 11:17:44 PM »
Army Charity Hoards Millions Meant to Help Veterans

Between 2003 and 2007 -- as many military families dealt with long war deployments and increased numbers of home foreclosures -- Army Emergency Relief packed away $117 million into its own reserves while spending just $64 million on direct aid, tax records show.

FORT BLISS, Texas  -- As soldiers stream home from Iraq and Afghanistan, the biggest charity inside the U.S. military has been stockpiling tens of millions of dollars meant to help put returning fighters back on their feet, an Associated Press investigation shows.

Between 2003 and 2007 -- as many military families dealt with long war deployments and increased numbers of home foreclosures -- Army Emergency Relief grew into a $345 million behemoth. During those years, the charity packed away $117 million into its own reserves while spending just $64 million on direct aid, according to an AP analysis of its tax records.

Tax-exempt and legally separate from the military, AER projects a facade of independence but really operates under close Army control. The massive nonprofit -- funded predominantly by troops -- allows superiors to squeeze soldiers for contributions; forces struggling soldiers to repay loans -- sometimes delaying transfers and promotions; and too often violates its own rules by rewarding donors, such as giving free passes from physical training, the AP found.

AER was founded in 1942 to soften the personal financial hardships on soldiers and their families as the country ramped up its fight in World War II.  ---MORE---


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"Look at the stock market," said retired Col. Dennis Spiegel, AER's deputy director for administration. Without the large reserve, he added, "We'd be in very serious trouble."
Navy- and Air Force-sponsored charities also are deeply intertwined with their services, but they impose controls that help safeguard their independence.


Let me be the first to say, **** you, Colonel. I hope your ass is DX'ed out of the ******* Army before you can receive ANY pension.
« Last Edit: February 23, 2009, 10:18:36 AM by TxRadioguy »
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Offline NHSparky

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Re: Army Charity Hoards Millions Meant to Help Veterans
« Reply #1 on: February 23, 2009, 06:50:56 AM »
One of the reasons I never liked Navy Relief OR the Red Cross when I was on AD.

They got too big for their britches, IMHO.
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Offline TheSarge

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Re: Army Charity Hoards Millions Meant to Help Veterans
« Reply #2 on: February 23, 2009, 07:00:38 AM »
So that's where my money has been going on all of these yearly CFC campaigns.
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Offline NHSparky

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Re: Army Charity Hoards Millions Meant to Help Veterans
« Reply #3 on: February 23, 2009, 08:57:51 AM »
Quote from: TxRadioguy on February 23, 2009, 07:00:38 AM
So that's where my money has been going on all of these yearly CFC campaigns.

Yuppers.  Ain't nothing like a captive audience, is there?

I could tell you horror stories about how I and my guys got screwed over by the RC, Navy Relief, or both at once.  It got to the point where IF the Red Cross would get off their dead asses and verify an emergency for one of the guys, we'd take up a collection and give it to him directly rather than deal with either of those agencies any further.
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Offline DumbAss Tanker

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Re: Army Charity Hoards Millions Meant to Help Veterans
« Reply #4 on: February 23, 2009, 10:16:22 AM »
Quote from: TxRadioguy on February 23, 2009, 07:00:38 AM
So that's where my money has been going on all of these yearly CFC campaigns.

No, AER is entirely separate from CFC, that is the OTHER big 'gimme' they are allowed to hit you up for each year. 
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Offline TheSarge

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Re: Army Charity Hoards Millions Meant to Help Veterans
« Reply #5 on: February 23, 2009, 10:19:17 AM »
Quote from: DumbAss Tanker on February 23, 2009, 10:16:22 AM
No, AER is entirely separate from CFC, that is the OTHER big 'gimme' they are allowed to hit you up for each year. 

But in that big book of places you can make donations...AER is one of them.
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Offline DumbAss Tanker

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Re: Army Charity Hoards Millions Meant to Help Veterans
« Reply #6 on: February 23, 2009, 10:24:11 AM »
Quote from: TxRadioguy on February 23, 2009, 10:19:17 AM
But in that big book of places you can make donations...AER is one of them.

So are a thousand other even-less-deserving organizations, including I believe the Brady Bunch.  I always designate 100% of my CFC to specific organizations so I know I'm not supporting anything I'm against.  I generally give about half to BSA and GSA local councils, part of the rest to a Second Amendment organization, and look for something suitable for the rest.
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Offline TheSarge

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Re: Army Charity Hoards Millions Meant to Help Veterans
« Reply #7 on: February 23, 2009, 10:35:31 AM »
Quote from: DumbAss Tanker on February 23, 2009, 10:24:11 AM
So are a thousand other even-less-deserving organizations, including I believe the Brady Bunch.  I always designate 100% of my CFC to specific organizations so I know I'm not supporting anything I'm against.  I generally give about half to BSA and GSA local councils, part of the rest to a Second Amendment organization, and look for something suitable for the rest.

I do the same thing.  Since 2005 I'd been sending my donation to the fund that was building the 9/11 Memorial at the Pentagon.

Not only was it a very good cause...I can see the results of my donations (and thousands of others) every day when I drive to work.
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Liberalism Is The Philosophy Of The Stupid

The libs/dems of today are the Quislings of former years.  The cowards who would vote a fraud into office in exchange for handouts from the devil.

If it walks like a donkey and brays like a donkey and smells like a donkey - it's Cold Warrior.  - PoliCon



Palin has run a state, a town and a commercial fishing operation. Obama ain't run nothin' but his mouth. - Mark Steyn

Offline Chris_

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Re: Army Charity Hoards Millions Meant to Help Veterans
« Reply #8 on: February 23, 2009, 07:18:59 PM »
AER is for ACTIVE DUTY and RETIREES ONLY. It isn't for VETERANS, only for ACTIVE DUTY AND RETIREES. It is spelled out in their mission statement. Jonn has a breakdown here: http://thisainthell.us/blog/?p=8084
AER has a response:On their website.
« Last Edit: February 23, 2009, 07:57:06 PM by Big Don »
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