Project VetCare closed for mismanagement
Bobo and JonP sent us links the story of Project VetCare, a charity that was supposed to help veterans, but instead, helped themselves, according to New Hampshire Attorney General Gordon MacDonald;
“This charity was established to support the brave men and women who have served our country. Some leaders of this charity enriched themselves at the expense of the veterans they were entrusted to help,” said Attorney General Gordon MacDonald. “Veterans deserve our respect and support. It is a deeply disturbing breach of trust that funds raised in their name were instead diverted for a cruise vacation, household expenses and tens of thousands of dollars of improper loans to directors.”
From the Valley News;
The investigation by the state’s Charitable Trusts Unit, which oversees charities in New Hampshire, uncovered “diversion of large sums of money for the benefit of the charity’s executive director, her family, an employee and some members of the board of directors,” the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office said in a statement released on Thursday afternoon.
Danielle Goodwin, the former executive director, diverted money to pay for a vacation on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, a new heating system at her home on Kingsford Road in Hanover, as well as “stipend payments” to herself and her children and a loan to her son, according to the state’s investigation.
The investigation also found that the organization’s donations had been tapped to pay for a Toyota van for Project VetCare cofounder Robert Chambers as well as a stipend payment to his daughter. Funds also were used for a $47,000 loan to Gavin Goodwin, the husband of Danielle Goodwin and a Project VetCare director, according to the Attorney General Office’s preliminary report. There also was a loan of more than $2,100 to board member Dana Pirovane
The non-profit organization has been placed in receivership while it’s assets are sold off.
As a result of settling the claims, the Charitable Trusts Unit has been receiving financial restitution from the principals who benefited from the transactions.
Based upon each individual’s ability to pay, Bergman has returned $10,000 on the $15,000 car loan; Pirovane has paid back in full $1,054; Gavin Goodwin has to date paid back nearly $16,700 of the $30,000 he is required to pay; Robert Chambers has fully repaid $11,500.
Danielle Goodwin is obligated to pay back $90,000 upon the sale of her Hanover home, which is listed for sale for $899,000. A sale is now “under contract,” according to the report.
The Attorney General’s Office’s preliminary report said that all proceeds generated from the sale of the Project VetCare’s properties, in addition to the money claimed through restitution, will be disbursed to an Upper Valley organizations serving veterans.
Category: Phony Vet Charities
Sent you an email, Jonn, about an apparently similar deal
Scumbags.
Scumbags is a mild term. These ‘charities’ are more and more suspect now.
Itis not enough that these bastards repay what they stole….there needs to be a horse choking penalty on top of it! Let them spend years thinking about what they had done and to whom, all the time paying through the ears!! imho
Just shutting down these scams without jail time for those involved makes me set my jaws tight.
Wow… no criminal charges for those that used the “charity” as a personal bank account.
Investigation still in progress. So they may still face criminal charges.
Gee whiz, shit like this and some dare to call ME “greedy” because I’m picky about which charities I donate to!
A few months back, Hack Stone received a robo-call from some charity named United Service Members Counsel (or something similar to that). Hack started asking questions to the robot, and the robot transferred me to his supervisor. So Mr. Supervisor starts his spiel, and Hack asked him how much actually goes to the veterans. He said 10%. You have to give it to them, they sure do have balls. Then Hack got another robo-call about two weeks back, so Hack told the robot “I’m a veteran, how about sending some of that swag my way?”. The robot hung up on Hack.
Also donot give to wounded warriors –
I think the jury is still out on the new management.
Hanover N H is like 30 miles up the road from my location and I have never heard of this outfit till news of their theivery broke.
I always ask about how much goes to the veteran etc. whenever I get calls for a donation. I have a finite amount to give and make sure I get the most bang for my buck. I only give to charities that have the very best reputation such as Fisher House etc.
Agreed. The Fisher House is an excellent organization.
Saw them around town a couple times and they gave a brief at Post 22 after a meeting. Something was just off about them so never linked up. Checked with the previous Dept Cmdr and he concured.
Sad.
We in Florida have a link set up by the state that gives you a report on any charity and how much actually goes to the vets and how much goes to the thieves that are running the show? Any calls I get, I go to that link and check them out while I’m on the phone with them. They really get pissy when you give them the figures on their so called Charity???
I don’t see any jail time for this scum…
Arrested today.
http://www.vnews.com/Former-Executive-Director-at-Project-VetCare-Arrested-12183276