Wounded Warrior Project Email Exchange (With Gun Talk Radio)

Facebook, Gun Talk ^ | 13NOV12 | Tom Gresham

[Marie]

Wounded Warrior Project Email Exchange
by Gun Talk on Tuesday, November 13, 2012 at 9:56am ·

After Sunday's show, we've gotten many emails about Tom's remarks after WWP declined an interview request on Gun Talk Radio because it's a firearms-related show. We've also seen the forums that are suggesting many things that are not true. So, I'm going to lay it all out right here.

We thought it would be great to book the WWP on the Veteran's Day show to promote the organization, so I contacted them. I was flabbergasted when their PR contact, Leslie, sent me an email saying they could not participate because our show dealt with firearms. Knowing that WWP has had a booth at trade shows and various gun shows across the US, takes wounded warriors on hunts and range days, raffles guns and accessories as fundraisers, etc., their policy didn't make much sense. I forwarded the email on to Tom to get his take.

-Sarah

The following is the complete email exchange:

====================

Hello, Leslie:

Sarah forwarded me your email after I asked her to invite the Wounded Warriors Project to join me on "Tom Gresham's Gun Talk" radio show.

I'm stunned at your email saying that the WWP doesn't participate in an interview or activity related to firearms. Inasmuch as there are 90 million gun owners and most of them support wounded veterans, I think they would be shocked to hear that they are, by way of their hobbies, somehow not worthy of helping with the Wounded Warriors Project.

Does your policy apply also to police agencies and the military, since they are "related to firearms?"

I'm hoping that we have misunderstood your email. Can you confirm that it is, in fact, an official policy of the Wounded Warriors Project to not do interviews with or participate in any activity related to firearms?

Thank you.

Tom Gresham

============

Good afternoon --

While we appreciate your interest in Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) you are correct that we decline the media opportunity.

Please note the following notice that appears on our website which also applies to WWP public awareness policy and inquiries from media outlets:

http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/additional-opportunities.aspx

WWP does not co-brand, create cause marketing campaigns or receive a percentage or a portion of proceeds from companies in which the product or message is sexual, political or religious in nature, or from alcohol or firearms companies.

Thank you for your inquiry.

LESLIE A. COLEMAN

public relations director

O: 904.405.1433

M: 904.654.8138

F: 904.296.7347

Wounded Warrior Project

4899 Belfort Road, Suite 300

Jacksonville, Florida 32256

====================

Thanks for confirming that, Leslie. It was a simple opportunity to promote the WWP on a national program in an effort to send donations your way.

I'll pass along the info that you don't want or need the help of America's gun owners.

Best regards,

Tom Gresham

=====================

Good morning --

This policy is not a judgment on those who own and use firearms – clearly every member of our armed forces has been trained in the use of firearms and then called on to use them in the course of their service to this country.

Our position regarding firearms and alcohol is in response to the struggles that many injured service members face with substance abuse and suicide and the roles those items often play in those issues.

Thank you.

LESLIE A. COLEMAN

public relations director

=============================

Hello, Leslie:

Thank you for that explanation.

I do think -- and I'm being as kind as possible -- that it's the nuttiest thing I've heard in years. Suicides are not linked to firearms. Japan has a much higher rate of suicide than does the U.S., and they have essentially no firearms. Suicide is a serious issue irrespective of the methodology used.

This explanation doesn't pass even the most simple "does this make sense" test.

Your policy does, in fact, brand firearms and the companies which make them as undesirables, and by association, you are saying that those who own and use firearms for recreation, hunting, self protection, and other safe and legal uses are to be avoided.

It's certainly your option to ostracize the firearms industry, the 90 million gun owners in America, and the media which support firearms safety training.

At this point, I feel an obligation to make sure the millions who listen to my radio show and watch my two national television series know about your policy.

I cannot fully express how much I feel you are doing a disservice to our wounded veterans, and how disappointed I am to discover this bias at the Wounded Warriors Project.

Sincerely,
Tom Gresham

[Geoffrey]

The disgust is towards wwp & charities gone bad — not veterans.

I suspect wwp will change their policy in a few months when they see what damage they have done to their brand...but it will be too late.

Check out their 501c3 filings...pretty interesting reading.

[SJSAMPLE]

They’re sort of like the NRA.
I give to them on a monthly CC charge, but they send me calendars, dog tags, etc. to get me to give more.

I’m sure that at some point, it becomes counterproductive (marginal costs > marginal revenue).

But, they do great work and I’m gonna continue to support them.

[frankenMonkey]

Just found this comment at the Ranking Website:

"$4,000,000 plus for , from what I can find out, 14 board members?? c'mon, thats an average of $285,714 per year salary"

I can't vouch for its accuracy, however.

[JDoutrider]

Will sadly pass this on to my Vets list and others. GD it! They have been compromised! Another one bites the dust...

[spacejunkie2001]

I just cancelled my monthly donation. I was giving them $25/month. Pretty pathetic that they would adopt crazy positions like this but yet they’ll cozy up to Playboy.

Idiots.

[ruesrose]

You urge me to support any other group but this one? That is exactly what I am saying. We call our wounded “wounded warriors.” That is not exactly including the WWP, is it? Money or goods I donate to the Fisher House or the VA goes to help our wounded (warriors) or sick veterans. It does not go through the Wounded Warrior Project and has nothing to do with them.
If you ae are concerned about your money going to worthwhile charities, check the Fisher House website and you will be impressed, I promise you.

Miss Judy

[ruesrose]

If you visit the website of Fisher House you will be gratgified to see how they spend the donations. You can designate which Fisher House you wish to receive your donation or you can put it in the general fund and it will be divided between them.

[Marie]

My husband stayed at the Fisher House in Austin when I had my spinal surgery. It was good for him to have a close place to grab some sleep for the 10 days I was admitted.

We lived an hour and a half from the hospital and it would’ve been hell for him to do that commute with the stress he was under.

We also stayed in the FH while my son was sick when he was a baby. Two weeks of hell. The FH made it bearable. We were broke and they let us stay for free.

[Tijeras_Slim]

The CEO gets over $300K.

[ruesrose]

I am glad to know you had a positive experience. Our local Fisher House in Augusta GA is on the grounds of the Charlie Norwood VAMC. There are 19 bedrooms and they are almost always full with up to 3 in a room.
It is as beautiful as a 5 star hotel and no one is ever charged for staying there. Some stay for months.
A mother and her two children recently stayed while her spouse was going though blind rehab. That is just one of the state of the art departments in the Charlie Norwood VAMC
I am quite proud of that hospital and of course the Fisher House.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us here on FR. I hope you and your family are all healthy now.
Miss Judy

[jboot]

Please think about what you are doing!

Perhaps that sentiment should be directed at WWP instead. They will get nothing from me unless they publically repudiate this policy. Money is scarce and I am already forced to surrender far to much of it to organizations who work against my interests (read The Government). I'll not do so voluntarily.

[Truth2012]

Ok. I will look into that, yes. I agree not to punish the wounded, and they do deserve support.

[Jane Long]

Thanks for mentioning The Fisher House. Great resource deserving of donations. In addition to monetary donations, I also try and send them lap/regular quilts and goody boxes w/phone cards, etc for those visiting.

[Big Mack]

I got quite upset after reading this post. I went and told my wife about these scammers. She has been in nonprofit fund raising for over twenty years, so she pulled the WWP form 990. Last year WWP took in 123 million in contributions.
Their expenses were 108 million, with only 90 mil to programs and 14 million to fund raising. Their CEO banked a salary of 320K.
Her opinion of this group was almost as bad as the Red Cross. She wouldn't let me piss in their contribution plate.

[Betteboop]

I participated in the NYC Veterans’ Day Parade last Sunday, with another organization, and was stunned to see what seemed like a thousand participants from the WWP. They had tents set up in an area between 28th and 29th Sts, just off 5th Ave. There they were handing out blue drizzler jackets to all their “volunteers” along with handing out thousands of lic plate frames and other “souveniers” They also had food and entertainment there. I did see some wounded warriors, but I was still amazed at the number of volunteers they had.....and wondered what they did, other than get a jacket? Those jackets had to cost a pretty penny....or dollar, with inflation! Just how much of their income actually goes to the our service members?

[Tainan]

Special Operations Warrior Fund