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.”
