Community Chat

[MaggieMack]

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@kdgn wrote:

Per the link to the show, WW spent $1,741,226 in 2010 for meetings and events. In 2014 they spent $ 26, 054, 363 for meetings and events. It is alleged that these meetings have been held at resorts with open bars across the country. The $26 million is about the amount they also spend on combat stress recovery, its top program. Again, this is from the article. 

Former employees have said that spending has gone way up since the current CEO took over in 2009. He calls the spending for meetings and events "team building". 

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I call it abuse of the charity's mission and its donors.

[Puzzle Piece]

I heard about this from someone who went to them for help.  It's a shame.  Just another rip off. 

[LilacTree]

I never donate money to charities, especially those who advertise on TV.  Our family donates to Catholic Charities in the form of merchandise and other articles.  We also give items of furniture and other household products to Goodwill and Salvation Army.

Chicago Fire had a segment on their show last night about this.  There was a small tornado that had gone through the town a few episodes ago. A local politician asked the Fire Dept. to help out at a drive to solicit funds because the government did not consider this tornado damage as qualifying for disaster relief.

So "Casey" went to the drive and gave a little speech and was told later that it had garnered $50,000.  However, no one was being helped, so he went to the politician and asked where the money went and the guy told him it had been spent.  He then asked "on what?" and the guy would not answer.  He said something about overhead and other costs but essentially was just trying to get Casey off his back.  Casey kept pressing on, saying "where did the money go?" but knew exactly what had happened to the money.  The politician and his friends were the beneficiaries, not the public who needed it.

I am wondering if the series will follow up on this storyline.

[Say Nay]

I'm a supporter of their org and was quite upset and saddened to see this.  I am following their FB page and they are replying to many posts criticising them because of the story. They say CBS incorrectly read and falsely reported their expenses. I will back off my donations to them for now and wait and see if CBS is indeed accurate with their figures. 

[Rileyx]

The main people would not go on camera to talk about it. Instead they sent a spokesman. The interviewer asked him questions and finally had to say, 'is that the answer you're going to give to all my questions?'. So he was coached I guess. This really opened my eyes to this organization.

[LyndaGee]

I'm sorry to hear this.  Was hoping it was untrue.  Their ads are very effective and often heartbreaking.  I've donated quite a few times.

[muttmom]

We been donating monthly for a few years.  Today I canceled our account.  When I called there was a recording they were experiencing a heavy call volume and they'd give me a call back in the order of my call.  The call back came in 3 hours.

I am terribly saddened by the report.  When my father died, WW was the charity of his choice in lieu of flowers.

[MomCat]

This is indeed sad.  They previously had a good record and that's why I supported them.  Maybe this is a good thing this report came out, so they can get back on track.  Hope so.  I want to support our vets. 

[SeaMaiden]

I had one charity send me a dollar bill in the envelope begging for money? Wonder how many dollar bills they gave away never to see again, or that got thrown away never opened? People that donated gave them those dollar bills!   I never sent them a dime....kept the dollar.

[Lila Belle]

The same with WW sending a blanket. Such a waste for what we now know is a honey pot.