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INVESTIGATION RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT U.S. VETERANS

HOSPICE FOUNDATION -- The foundation is not listed

with the IRS as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization,

as it claims to be in its mailings.

 

 

For more on veterans' charities, use the VA Watchdog search engine...click here...
http://www.yourvabenefits.org/
sessearch.php?q=charity
+charities&op=or

Story here... http://www.tucsoncitizen
.com/daily/opinion/61305.php

Story below:

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Wage war on making bucks off vets

BILLIE STANTON
Tucson Citizen

 

Take heed, all Tucsonans being soli- cited by the U.S. Veterans Hospice Foundation.

Claims by this self-described nonprofit cannot be substantiated.

A recent letter to Tucsonans solicits money to create hospices for homeless veterans with chronic illnesses "to comfort these heroes during their darkest hours."

"In fact," the letter claims, "the Veterans Administration has shown that it cannot meet the bare minimum of service to our veterans."

Au contraire. In Tucson and across the country, the VA has extensive programs for homeless veterans.

The foundation, however, is not listed with the IRS as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, as it claims to be in its mailings.

Nor is it registered with Arizona departments that would have to approve its solicitations here.

Tucson, a military city with plenty of retired veterans, is a natural target for solicitations such as these.

One 85-year-old Tucson woman was so moved by the purported plight of veterans that she made a donation and then asked me to publicize homeless veterans' needs.

(The Tucson Citizen is not identifying the donor lest she be inundated by solicitations.)

My friend Al Huffman, a decorated World War II veteran, also was solicited but only forwarded the mailing to me.

"People should look into these organizations that say they give money to soldiers who never get it," Huffman said. "It's a disgrace. . . . "

The foundation claims to be part of The Ark Foundation Inc., formerly the At-Risk Kids Foundation and earlier still the Bob Wiggins Evangelistic Association Inc.

Whatever links evangelism, at-risk kids and homeless veterans with chronic illnesses has not been made clear.

The veterans foundation also claims to be "recognized as tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Your contribution is fully tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law," its mailing claims.

However, registration as a 501(c)3 nonprofit - for either the U.S. Veterans Hospice Foundation or The ARK Foundation Inc. - is not listed in the IRS' Publication 78 or at charitywatch.org, give.org or guidestar.org.

The veterans foundation also has not sought approval from the Arizona Department of Veterans' Services, reports M. David Hampton, the department's director of communications and legislative affairs.

"The U.S. Veterans Hospice Foundation is not approved by this agency in accordance with ARS 41-603 to solicit funds in behalf of veterans in Arizona," Hampton wrote. "As you can see below, I also searched the Secretary of State's site and they also do not turn up there."

As for the Bob Wiggins Evangelistic Association in Arkansas, its tax-exempt status was suspended and hasn't been in effect since May 1982, the IRS reports.

The veterans foundation does accurately report that more than 200,000 veterans are homeless in the U.S.

But its claim that these "true heroes" face a "terrible plight" is greatly exaggerated.

In Tucson, the VA seeks out homeless veterans through shelters, faith-based programs, free meal settings, "Operation Deep Freeze" each winter and any other lead, says Steve Cohen, director of VA's homeless program in Arizona, New Mexico and western Texas.

VA does, in fact, provide hospice care for terminally ill homeless veterans, as well as services including medical, mental health, consultation, transitional housing and case management for all VA and community programs, Cohen notes.

The U.S. Postal inspector and Arizona Attorney General's Office are now investigating the U.S. Veterans Hospice Foundation.

Obviously, anyone can donate as they like, even if their donations are not tax-deductible.

But Tucsonans may want to ask a few questions before they give money to this group.

 

Billie Stanton may be reached at bstanton@tucsoncitizen.com  and 573-4664.

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Larry Scott  --