St. Joseph, MO . Name used under false pretenses, Somebody Did`nt Do there Homework!!!!

OFF THE WIRE
BY: Kim Norvell
Source: newspressnow.com
It’s a case of mistaken identity.
A legitimate organization’s name has been used under false pretenses, officials of the group believe.
The Warrior Brotherhood Veterans Motorcycle Club saw its name used in the news, outlining a so-called scam that is asking businesses for donations in order to send care packages to active military members overseas. It says the 139th Airlift Wing will be transporting the packages in the near future.
However, Maj. Barb Denny, the Wing’s executive officer, said the 139th is not involved.
Eric Haines, president of the Warrior Brotherhood Veterans, Kansas A Chapter, said the organization is in fact seeking donations for veterans. But he added they are not sending them overseas; they are for local vets in Kansas and Missouri only.
The Brotherhood contracts a professional fundraising company, Community Investment Unlimited, operated by Jim Bauer, to seek donations for both chapters, Mr. Haines said.
Mr. Bauer said he employs callers who ask for donations from businesses under the Warrior Brotherhood name. Currently, they are fundraising for Thanksgiving baskets for local veterans. He also said they seek donations so the organization can donate shipping costs to the VFW, so that organization can send its care packages overseas.
Cmdr. Jim Connors, head of the St. Joseph Police Department’s detectives division, said their investigation revealed that the Warrior Brotherhood was, in fact, a legitimate organization, but its callers may have been exaggerating where the donations were going in order to solicit more money.
Mr. Bauer and Mr. Haines believe a former fundraiser is using the Warrior Brotherhood’s name to solicit donations for his own profit. This person was previously contracted by the organization as a professional fundraiser. But the Warrior Brotherhood later severed relations with him and ordered him to stop raising funds after the group found he was not registered by the state as a not-for-profit entity.
The former fundraiser, who has not been charged with a crime in this matter, couldn’t be reached for comment.
Either way, the Warrior Brotherhood is hoping to clear its name and hopes people will still consider donating to its cause.
“We’re not getting any money out of this. We’re here for veterans and their families. We’re not here to swindle the community,” Mr. Haines said. “He thinks by doing this he’s going to hurt us, but it’s going to hurt the veterans, not us.”
Kim Norvell can be reached at kim.norvell@newspressnow.com.