Soldiers' Angels is Dying

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Published: Sunday, 22 July 2012 14:35

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22 July 2012

On 17 July 2012, Soldiers' Angels announced that Executive Director Toby Nunn was leaving the organization.  Rumors of impropriety have surrounded Nunn.  Plenty of those landed in my inbox and in my ears.  I warned SA leadership and the public.

Moreover, a roadkill stench follows the Soldiers' Angels Trustees Matthew Burden and Mark  Seavey.  Both use their perches in various high-profile organizations to advance political agendas and personal vendettas, while consolidating influence.  Yet today, their reputations are sinking.

Seavey recently tried to bolster his flagging image by doing a short embed in Afghanistan as a journalist.  Seavey, a lawyer, in addition to being a Trustee at Soldiers' Angels, holds a leadership position as the new media director for the American Legion.

But embedding is not as easy as it sounds. It is expensive, dangerous work.  Seavey did not last long.  He lasted forty days, he says, but anyone with experience in that line of work knows the negative value of micro-embeds, and that forty-days is hardly enough to get there, unpack, get started, and leave.  This is not even enough time to complete basic military training, but is plenty of time for a photo op.  "There I was..."  Micro-embeds are about image, not substance.

Burden and Seavey are known for vicious attacks on those who do not agree with their politics and positions.  Why is this important?  Because despite the steady financial decline of Soldiers' Angels, the charity still brings in about $12 million in donations per year to support troops. It has become a fun-raiser (for having fun), a political vehicle, and a mallet to use against people who step beyond cult boundaries.  Intimidation is the norm.

The leadership of SA has become enamored with the spotlight and influence. They have flown too close to the sun.

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Months ago, I publicly warned about Soldiers' Angels, and I was thoroughly pounded, experiencing the customary discrediting attacks.  Some demanded that I apologize. But when the flak gets that intense and personal, it often means that you are on target.  Open the doors and drop the load.

This month, Charity Navigator released their worst rating to date on Soldiers' Angels.  SA received 1 star out of 4 on the financial rating, with an overall score of 2 stars.  (SA ended with 2 stars because they received 4 stars on transparency, which is like a suspect voluntarily opening his trunk after a dog alerts and a warrant is forthcoming. 'Transparency' is hardly a factor when a heavy sack of crystal meth is found.)

The 1 star rating is a reflection of the organization’s 1 star leadership.

The leadership of a once fine organization—an organization that has done outstanding work and is still filled with a significant number of extraordinary people—has sailed the ship aground.  The SA situation is beginning to look like the Exxon Valdez oil spill, only instead of dumping poison crude into once-pristine waters, Soldiers' Angels is pouring money into oblivion.

Caring people who wish to help veterans must ask themselves: should I dump money into an organization with an increasingly bad reputation and a 1 star financial rating, or should I invest in a competent charity with a 4 star rating?  After all, donations are also investments in an organization's future, and SA's future looks increasingly bleak.

One might wonder why Toby Nunn, a former Soldier with no experience in non-profits, was made executive director of a complex organization pulling in nearly $12 million dollars a year.  He was a pilot who could not read the gauges in the cockpit or the dark clouds ahead.

Of course Nunn can be the face of veterans, because he himself is one, but the organization has drifted from its honorable wellsprings to become more about fundraising, funraising, access, and clout.  Nunn as Executive Director created the emotional base, and the face, to keep the cash flowing.

Now, just as the 1 star financial rating was issued, Nunn is out the door.  The odds are high that Nunn did not just up and walk away from that $85,625 salary and all of those perks.

The 1 star rating is a result of monkeys in the cockpit.  Nunn is gone.  Now Soldiers’ Angels must purge Burden and Seavey.  If they all stick together, they will all crash together.

You heard it here first, months ago, long before it became obvious.  Angry readers demanded proof.  I refused, saying stick around, you will see that Soldiers’ Angels is crashing.  The press still does not realize that Soldiers' Angels flew too close to the sun, and is plummeting down, down into the deep, dark seas of history.

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  • This commment is unpublished.
    C Good · 7 years ago
    Thank you for the information, Michael.

    It's never a happy thing to read about the decline of an organization that once did a lot of good . . . but hopefully this will be a case where admitting there is a problem is one of the first steps to fixing that problem.

    It is surprising how much damage can be done by people in positions of leadership or authority, and how pervasive that damage can be. :sad:
    • This commment is unpublished.
      poogymom · 4 years ago
      I have been associated with Soldiers Angels for years, and have been blessed with meeting so many wonderful and caring people vIa email. My adopted soldiers have all made it back home safely to their families. Many still stay in contact with me, so we have a very large family as a result. All my adopted were sent goodie boxes at my own expense...not SA. I do what I do, because I care. SA grew very quickly and it takes time to sort it all out. If anything, SA went through a "fall back and regroup" phase. It appears now to be cycling through the old "I can do the job better than you" phase. These folks crawl out of the woodwork like roaches with a 3-pronged attack plan. Growth is a learning experience when you are teachable. Your "Soldiers Angels is dying" review proves the easy way is always mined. So, forgive me for taking another route no matter how weary I am. There were thousands of names requesting SA Support, and I watched it slowly go down to a few hundred. Those troops left behind are serving under sequestration in a deadly combat area. After an attack on their FOB, a soldier wrote his family that no one cared. They were continuing to fight while giving blood transfusions to the fallen. They had to ration what food/water they had and lost everything due to the RPGs. SA put our call out and together with the American Legion took them food and water, clothing, toiletries, and replaced their Mp3's and gaming platforms in a matter of days. We did care. We cared a lot. We let them know then, and we still do care a lot now. You didn't note the cost of renting the private aircraft and pilot to fly everything over. You'd probably think it was a grand party vacation to be slithered over. Where is the flight in your work? Here's the difference: you have your stars, and we have ours and they are all attached to uniforms.
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        Former SA · 4 years ago
        If thousands of soldiers waiting went to hundreds it's because entire units werent automatically being entered by SA and it's only soldiers themselves looking for support. That's how it always should have been. They have only themselves to blame.

        People adopt a soldier because they believe in them and want to help, even though at times it causes financial hardship for them. They don't want to adopt a soldier that didn't sign up for or need support but SA just wanted numbers.
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          poogymom · 4 years ago
          My error. Let me state it this way. I saw the numbers drop slowly over time as they were adopted. Some units returned stateside, of course...but these were real soldiers submitting their own names or their family members adding them. No one ever said there were thousands waiting. I never saw it and I've been supporting soldiers and their families for a solid 10 yrs. now. SA just wanted numbers? Never came across that either in 10 yrs. What I did see was 1,200 at the height of the war drop to 900 because we took more than one soldier. Then it went up as word got passed around. I view the list regularly and the information they give about their wives and children is not just some freak show.
      • This commment is unpublished.
        poogymom · 4 years ago
        To clarify...my reference to thousands is an aggregate number of watching the list for 10 yrs. The list goes up and down and should. I am pleased that all my adoptees made it home safely. Look at it that way. First I buy them special boot socks. Next I get whatever they may have requested. Then I ship Cheryl's cookies each month. I send emails. I send packages. Many who returned home still stay in contact with me. I've watched their children grow. Each one contacted has been a blessing to this grandma. I have 2 sons serving in the military...one a medic the other a Commander. This is one organization that is suffering growing pains but is no where near your so called "death". Cheer up... I helped get the Army Historical Foundation up and running. It had its growing pains, and guess what? It has survived nicely.
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    The Sanity Inspector · 7 years ago
    SA has an enthusiastic base of supporters, so it's sad to hear of their good faith being ill-served. Here's hoping the board can put things to rights.
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    william bloom · 7 years ago
    such a disappointment... guess I have made my last donation to Soldiers Angels.
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    Heywood Jablomi · 7 years ago
    The unfortunate reality is that once an organization like this takes a turn towards the dark side, it can rarely pull out of its death spiral. The gravity well is too powerful.

    It is about the brand. It takes years, and much hard and effective work, to establish the credibility and the value of a brand. The name "Soldier's Angels" had value. It still does. But every time that a third-party evaluator like Charity Navigator dispassionately exposes the rot within an organization like Soldier's Angels, the brand takes increasingly unsurvivable hits.

    For a charity like this, credibility and trustworthiness are critical. Once lost, the organization may as well strike its tents and send its foot-soldiers home.

    At this point, only a mass purge of those board members who detract from the core mission of Soldier's Angels with their antics has any hope of pulling the organization out of its current trajectory.

    And even that may not be enough. It may be too late for a once-great charity that did a lot of good for a lot of soldiers.

    Think about it: what brought them to the current edge of the precipice? Those of us who are familiar with their internal workings know precisely what is destroying the organization from within.

    For Soldier's Angels to fix itself, it must perform surgery on itself. It must excise and cauterize parts of itself that will kill that portion of the organization that must have a firm hand on the scalpel.

    As you see, this is a contradiction in terms, a paradox.

    It is highly likely that Soldier's Angels will not survive such a procedure. Failing to attempt it, however, is to surrender to a ravenous, insatiable cancer.

    Either way, it is probable that the organization is finished.

    I for one do not believe in miracle cures.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      E D Ullrich · 7 years ago
      It is sad when non profits get greedy. I have been limiting my involvement with SA and am currently a volunteer with Airborne Angel Cadets of Texas. www.airborneangelcadets.com
      We have a great organization and NO one earns a salary. 100% of what we bring in goes directly to our troops. Please check out our organization and join in.
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Sandy Allnock · 7 years ago
    Michael, when you called them out earlier, I knew you were right, too - it's sad. I run a nonprofit and wouldn't dream of doing what a lot of others do in the name of serving the troops. We just SERVE them and leave the drama to groups like SA. Thanks for the info.
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    Sad Angel · 7 years ago
    I stopped financially contributing (and matching donations from my work) to SA some time ago based on personal concerns I had. I still support solderers personally thought 1 on 1 adoptions but I am no longer drinking the kool-aid... the focus has been lost.
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    Deidre · 7 years ago
    After donating a few times, I began to receive emails somewhat berating me for not donating more or becoming more involved. NO ONE receives my hard-earned dollars after they have insulted me. Hard sell--no thanks.

    And I don't mind a political agenda as long as it is common sense, consistent and cooperative. No reason to be mean-spirited. Know what you believe. State it in a concise manner. Seek to convince without malice. Remember the Golden Rule even if the other guy doesn't.
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    Michele McDermott · 7 years ago
    Do I stop baking for my Units and drop my adopted soldiers? I have adopted many during the years.....what do I do now?
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      Levin Tull · 7 years ago
      Switch to Adopt a Platoon.
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        Robin · 7 years ago
        Is this the same as AdoptAPlatoon Soldier Support Effort that is listed on Charity Navigator? If so, it only has a 1 star rating.
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    Elaine · 7 years ago
    BRING THEM HOME!!!
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      Elaine · 7 years ago
      This Elaine is different from the other Elaine (me) who helps our PTSD Vets...just wanted to make a note of that.
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        Elaine Morris · 3 years ago
        I had an amazing experience with some of our Vets.
        I am old so this was a long time ago.
        I was going to school at U.T. SW Medical to get my first degree. I was having a hard time physically because I was one of the women who got breast implants. They broke. The Silicone was in my spinal fluid. It was painful. I had to crawl to the bathroom and try to "slither" over the tub to get into the hot jacuzzi.
        I found out about a clinic the U.T. SW Medical had for our Military that were exposed to chemical poison. It was a long time ago. I am thinking it was Agent Orange....They were VERY ILL. I was shocked with the treatment because it was so simple. They sat in the recliner chairs watching TV as the IV in their arms were pushing straight Vitamin C.
        I was finally cured but found I had grown accustomed to talking with them. I finished my treatments, so I don't know how long it took them to get well again.
        I felt so privileged to be in the same room with our Military.
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Frank · 7 years ago
    Another money grabbing organization just like the American Red Cross, UNICEF,and the United Way. I recall and article years ago in SOF about UNICEF and Guns to the IRA. The following are the honorable organizations: The Salvation Army's Commissioner Todd Bassett receives a salary of only $13,000 per year (plus housing) for managing this $2 billion dollar organization. 96 percent of donated dollars go to the cause.

    The American Legion National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!

    · The Veterans of Foreign Wars National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!

    · The Disabled American Veterans National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!

    · The Military Order of Purple Hearts National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!

    · The Vietnam Veterans Association National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sandy Allnock · 7 years ago
      Hey Frank - while I agree with much of what you're saying, the fact that orgs pay a tiny or NO salary to their leadership doesn't guarantee good stewardship or real assistance to those they are serving. (I'm not saying that about any of these you listed though - I'm speaking in general about nonprofit!) Calculations of overhead rates are done differently in various orgs - so comparing one to another may or may not tell you how well they actually use funds. I always look for how much benefit the end user gets for every dollar I give....ie if my donation of a dollar means a veteran gets $10 of support, I consider that fantastic, even if the cash overhead rate "looks" bad on paper because the org deals more in gifts-in-kind than in cash support.

      But back to salaries - In general, people do deserve to be compensated at some level for what they do - if they give over their lives in service to their beneficiaries, it's right to pay them to help keep a roof over their heads while they do their work. In addition, to get experienced leaders, at least some salary needs to be paid, or you may end up with people who have no skills to run an organization, and that could cause stewardship problems of its own.

      It's NOT right for exorbitant salaries to be paid though - you're totally right there! There is reasonable and then there is a waste of dollars that should go to the beneficiaries. I've seen a few nonprofit leaders who I'd totally back getting a higher-than-average salary (like IAVA) - if they're making major headway for our service members, I'm all for contributing so they can keep going.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      JR · 7 years ago
      [quote name="Frank"]Another money grabbing organization just like the American Red Cross, UNICEF,and the United Way. I recall and article years ago in SOF about UNICEF and Guns to the IRA. The following are the honorable organizations: The Salvation Army's Commissioner Todd Bassett receives a salary of only $13,000 per year (plus housing) for managing this $2 billion dollar organization. 96 percent of donated dollars go to the cause.

      The American Legion National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!

      · The Veterans of Foreign Wars National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!

      · The Disabled American Veterans National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!

      · The Military Order of Purple Hearts National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth!

      · The Vietnam Veterans Association National Commander receives a $0.00 zero salary. Your donations go to help Veterans and their families and youth![/quote]
      I used to work for the Red Cross, I researched this data. Check out Snopes - this is not true.

      I volunteer for Soldiers Angels and know that what I do supports the troops. I think there might be more behind this than just what is presented. I don't think SA is dying, nor will it. The volunteers of this organization are very dedicated to the troops. At one time or another all organizations have to go through some changes and that is what is happening to SA now.
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Michael j. Kerrigan · 7 years ago
    The sad story is nonetheless helpful as I try to navigate amidst the thousands of organization with a mission to help our nation's veterans. The charity navigator rating certainly offers helpful metrics. What other counsel might Michael or his readers offer one who is standing up a 501C3 whose mission is to help qualified vets find meaningful job opportunities in the private sector? Can one properly harness (in a transparent manner,) the robustness of the private sector? We are looking into whether "character based" micro finance, peer to peer lending to vets, can be structured to encourage vets who wish to become entrepreneurs.
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Elaine · 7 years ago
    I have been involved with Soldiers' Angels almost since the beginning. Our Team volunteers with the PTSD Unit at the Veterans Hospital. While I do not know about all of the inner works that has been mentioned, I can truthfully say that Soldiers' Angels has shown much kindness and generousity to our work for these most precious Veterans.
    If any of what you have reported is true Mr Yon, my heart is breaking because I love what Soldiers' Angels stands for and all of the tremendous help that has been given to the Vets, Troops & their families.
    My most sincere prayer is that this wonderful organization will stay on course and be the blessing that it has been since it's beginnings. There are so many wonderful organizations that help our military and I want Soldiers' to be one of them. I don't know what else to say but all I know is, I want to focus and work hard to help our PTSD Veterans.
    Elaine
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Elaine · 7 years ago
    I wish I could say that I help them as much as you do, Elaine, NUMBER "ONE".
    God bless you.
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      Elaine · 7 years ago
      God bless you too and most of all, God bless our Troops, Veterans and their families. :o)
      PS. And yes, may they all come home soon.
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Tommy B · 7 years ago
    Do you Michael, renounce Satan and all his/her works :-?

    I love the way you write mate ;-)

    Verbal evisceration using colorful euphemisms, it's like a refreshing spring shower verses the contrived poke-yourself-in-the-eye-with-a-sharp-stick mundane whiplash sensationalist drivel and hogwash of the MGMSM, and it's brain-dead sycophants

    Heywood is partially right, if things don't turn around quickly the creditors will step in and/or government agencies that have jurisdiction, then the axe will surely fall and SA will perish as an organization.

    What I think Michael and others are saying, and needs to be said over and over, when large amounts of money start flowing around, if you let the foxes in hen house, don't be surprised and shocked, shocked I say, when the eggs and the chickens start disappearing :-*

    Peace be unto you and yours 8)
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Elaine · 7 years ago
    Elaine NO. ONE!
    I have been hearing whispers of them coming home also. I was hoping it wasn't just my wishes BUT TRUE.
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    Elaine Hodges · 7 years ago
    Tonight our Soldiers' Angels Team served the Veterans at the Menlo Park VA PTSD Unit. We had a BBQ hamburgers, side dishes with all of the trimmings, along with homemade desserts. We celebrated the July birthdays and had many laughs. It was a great time and we love to spoil them rotten...these warriors in the PTSD Unit totally deserve it!
    As usual, many of of the Veterans came up to us with tears in their eyes, thanking us for our time spent with them, and of course, the tasty food too. We love these men & women as if they were our own sons & daughters.
    None of this would be possible without the encouragement and support that we as a Team, get from Soldiers' Angels. It is very common to hear many Veterans talk about their deployment and how they would receive care-packages from Soldiers' Angels.
    As with any organization run by humans, you will find some imperfection, but I can say without reservation that ever since I have been involved with S.A (over 7 years now) I have only seen generousity, kindness, concern, huge financial support and love, from those who run this organization.
    No way is Soldiers' Angels dying....maybe a few wrinkles may have to be ironed out as with any organization, but we are focused and it is our purpose to bring compassion, love & support to those who gave so much to defend and protect us.
    Thank God for Patti Patton Bader and the Soldiers Angels organization. I am so thankful that there are many organizations that reach out to our Troops & Vets, but I am especially thankful to be a part of THIS organization.
    We are pumped up, alive, with hearts full of love & appreciation and we look forward to many more years of serving our beloved Veterans & Troops.
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    Jim The Brit · 7 years ago
    Dear Michael,
    We adopted a US Marine through SA a couple of years ago and what lovely man he was. Went back to the USA safe and sound - Deo gratias. We learned all about beef jerky and gaterade from him and we rotted his teeth with all the English sweeties we sent him. I'm sorry to read SA is in trouble but as long as Elaine hodges is involved they will survive.
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    kat · 7 years ago
    it breaks my heart to hear about the organization but i believe that the true soldier's angels like myself who started out many years with the organization but no longer working through them are still out there stronger than ever on their own still serving the men and women who make our country great. you don't need an organization to do some good only a good heart. i will keep helping the soldier's as long as they need me and even though i may not be their "soldier's angel" i am and always will be the angel to the soldier's in need. thank you michael for always staying true to what's true and for always reporting the truth no matter how unpopular.
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    JM · 7 years ago
    "First, let me address organizational stability. Mr. Yon’s allegations are baseless at best." a letter from the Chairman.

    ...Hmm baseless? This man's posture and response just seems to prove Yon's point.

    SA is no more for me
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Maridee Bell · 7 years ago
    All is not as Michael would like us to believe.

    Soldiers’ Angels has received The Independent Charities Seal of Excellence and was awarded the distinction of being a “Best in America” charity. The Independent Charities Seal of Excellence is awarded to the members of Independent Charities of America that have, upon rigorous independent review,
    been able to certify, document, and demonstrate on an annual basis that they meet the highest standards of public accountability, program effectiveness, and cost effectiveness. These standards include those required by the United States Government for inclusion in the Combined Federal Campaign, probably the most exclusive fund drive in the world. Of the 1,000,000 charities operating in the United States today, it is estimated that fewer than 50,000 or 5%, meet or exceed these standards, and of those, fewer than 2,500 have been awarded the Seal as a “Best In America”. Soldiers Angels is one of the .25% recognized by the The Independent Charities of America.

    They are an excellent organization doing a myriad of good - ask the tens of thousands of military personnel that have been assisted by SA!
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      Barbara · 7 years ago
      SA makes much of the fact that they are certified by the Independent Charities of America. However, I read on the AIP (American Institute of Philanthropy) website that this group is funded by the very charities that they presumably evaluate. On top of that, ICA admits that they do not screen charities for financial efficiency. They used to have a rule that charities must not exceed 25% in administrative/fund-raising costs in order to be certified, but have dropped it. They claim to use the CFC (Combined Federal Campaign) standards, portraying them as being very exclusive, but even the CFC has said its review doesn't evaluate whether an organization uses funds efficiently, and cautions donors that they are responsible for evaluating the information for themselves.
      As a result, charities that have received an "F" grade from AIP have been certified by the ICA "Best In America", making the endorsement worthless.
      BTW, Soldier's Angels got a "D".
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    Mary Chatman · 7 years ago
    Toby Nunn was Patti Bader's yard boy living in his car when she hired him. Ask who is paying for her house and the homes of her children. Ask about the all expense paid trips for R&R. Questions need to be raised.
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    Cyndi Fisher · 6 years ago
    I have received a email today from Soldiers' Angels that they now want to charge you $1.00 per month to be a volunteer and on top of that to win monthly amazing prizes how are the prizes funded. As far as I am concerned you should NOT have to pay to be a volunteer!!!!!
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    Mary · 6 years ago
    Patti stepped down from leading Soldiers Angels
    Ann Palmer was fired from Operation Homefront recently. False documentation regarding over $30K worth of donated items for our military. NBC news among others reported about it
    She now has been given a leadership position at Soldiers Angels without the theft charge being either cleared or left in place
    Soldiers Angels authorized an email sent out from Ann Palmer in the last few days
    In order to continue membership in this volunteer organization there is now a mandatory "donation" of at least $1 monthly from each Angel! How can a mandatory fee be called a donation?
    Volunteers spend their own $$$ to send every package, bake every cookie and write every letter to our deployed soldiers and to support families and veterans
    The Lifetime Membership that was paid for at sign up is now worth years
    The definitions of Donation and Lifetime obviously are different to Ann Palmer than they are to me
    Now its Angel pay up or turn in your broken wings
    Heartbreaking
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Sue · 6 years ago
      I am appalled at what has transpired during the last week on Soldier's Angels Facebook page. When it was apparent that things were going to get ugly the page was switched from "open" to "closed". Close those doors!!! Volunteers rightly raised alot of valid questions, including why the 2012 financials were not available on their site (you have to specifically contact them to get a copy), whether the SA warehouse had been closed, why we had received a plea to donate $30,000 in one month to ship product from that warehouse and more. The CEO, nor anyone else in management has been available to explain the new "verification" charge, instead underlings were instructed to post the original e-mail that many did not receive. A furor ensued... can you imagine? The questions raised about Amy Palmer were quickly diverted with a link to a story that she is suing her former employer. "LIfetime" members were told, pay or leave. The straw that broke the camels back was when a veteran suggested that she, nor any other veteran should be required to pay this "verification" charge. Patti Patton-Bader had to check with the CEO and the answer was... nope, everybody pays. If the veteran didn't want to pay then someone would sponsor her. I find Patti Patton-Bader's consistent inability to answer questions publicly (at one point she was giving out her telephone number!) to be unacceptable. The continued posts asking questions are quickly buried (or deleted) as they talk about "fluff". The deadline for signing up to pay the fee is November 1st, so stayed tuned for the crash and burn. This is unfortunate because I know that soldiers have benefitted from the tireless work of the volunteers, but they have consistently disrespected those volunteers, in my humble opinion. The emperor has no clothes.... And yes, I won't let the door smack me in the ass on my way out!!
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    Iris · 6 years ago
    Did you know that Soldiers Angels is now charging their members one dollar a month for membership? In addition, Amy Palmer (fired by USO) and Leslie Scott (had encounter with her, myself) are in charge of collecting these mandatory fees? Soldiers Angels has been listed as a charity in CFC. A lifetime membership no longer is a lifetime membership but rather it is "Grandfathered" into these fees and accepted "for a few years time". The reason I am writing this is that it is the ANGELS that are outstanding! Please don't confuse a greedy Executive Board with the Angels who have done so much for our Soldiers and Angels. I was one of those Angels and I did a lot with other Angels for our Soldiers and Veterans and have references regarding same. No one is more heart broke over the way Soldiers Angels is spiraling downward than the Angels! It is so sad!
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      Iris · 6 years ago
      I do want to add, for any Angels who would like to stay with other Angels that oppose this mandatory fee, please post here with some way of reaching you and I will do so. Thank YOU!
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        Barbara Lawrence · 6 years ago
        I bailed out of SA a long time ago for what I believed to be financial shenanigans at the executive level. But I agree that many thousands of Angels have sacrificed money, time and effort on behalf of soldiers and Marines, and that should be recognized. This organization is on its way out and Angels should look for other ways to show their support.
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        patty · 6 years ago
        :sad: i know i wont be able to afford that money. I havebeen an angel for years and years.
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      Leslie · 4 years ago
      As I have discovered that I was mentioned specifically in this comment. I would just like to say that I had NO ROLE in the mandated of any type of fees, or had any part in the collection of them that the above commenter stated. Nor was I a member of any executive board or committee. I would appreciate if the untrue comments were removed.
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    Doris · 6 years ago
    I was suspended a few years ago because I joined another organization. So, It's Patti, or no one according to her. She even called me. We now have some angels in our area and are doing our own Angeling. Anyone can do it, if I can.
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Sue Brittingham · 6 years ago
    When I got the e-mail looking for $30,000.00 in donations to ship packages from the warehouse, at that time the warehouse was closed. I went on the SA Facebook page, and I posted my thoughts on the $1.00 per month to be an approved angel, and within minutes my post was deleted. That's how they deal with people that have a difference of opinion. Did you also know that some veterans lost their jobs so Patti's family members could have jobs!! It's such a shame that the powers to be, have let this organization become their own pocketbooks, while the Angels are spending their own money to support the troops. Do not get me wrong, I don't mind spending my own money to support the troops, but when money is donated to "support the troops", to SA that is what the money should be spent for. I hope that someone will look into what is going on within the ranks of Soldiers' Angles, and get the donations directed to what they were given for, "THE MILITARY". God Bless Our Troops!! P.S. I have a wonderful organization close to me "Operation We Care", and that is where I will be helping, and it won't cost $1.00 a month.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Kat C · 5 years ago
      :sad: I was devastated when they took my soldiers away because I refused to give them my credit card. I have been a Soldiers Angel for 8 years... On the Living Legends team, I have sent out 1500 sympathy card and innumerable get well cards for the TLC wounded team. I have had personal correspondence and received a special commendation from the department of the Army because one of my soldiers nominated me for Going Above and Beyond Parental Service. Now they will give up dedicated Soldiers Angels, like you and me because we refuse to give them our credit card information for their measly dollar a month that we give 1000 fold to our adopted soldiers. It's an infuriating disgrace. I have talked to them many times, asking them to stop this. Now they have taken all of my soldiers (3) from me and removed me from both the wounded and kia teams. So what do they really care about? The soldier or the dollar?
      • This commment is unpublished.
        elaine · 4 years ago
        Kat......you don't need to give a credit card. That is a request that they made at first...but it is no more.
        What was happening behind the scenes was, some ladies were adopting multiple soldiers under various identities and wanting to start relationships with the deployed troops...many of them were married.
        It was a very small number of women, but in order to put a stop to one person creating multiple identities , the credit card request seemed to be the only way to confirm a single identity.

        Also, over the years, many Angels have passed away or have quit, so the new registration was simply to see which Angels in the 200,000 SA Membership data base still desired to be active.

        I would encourage you to rejoin SA or some other Organization and continue supporting our Troops because you seem to have a good heart and great spirit. God bless you for all that you have done to support our Men & Women in harm's way!
  • This commment is unpublished.
    elaine · 4 years ago
    Soldiers' Angels wins prestigious Great Nonprofits Award!


    Soldiers' Angels has been honored with a prestigious 2014 Top-Rated Award by GreatNonprofits, the leading provider of user reviews about nonprofit organizations. The award was based on the large number of positive reviews that Soldiers' Angels received - reviews written by volunteers, donors and clients.
    • This commment is unpublished.
      Ciara · 4 years ago
      Unfortunately reviews on that site aren't verified; you shouldn't go by their "awards" to judge ANY charity.
  • This commment is unpublished.
    cyndi · 4 years ago
    I would never rejoin SA. they have taken away the life time memberships and put Amy Palmer in charge. because they received one award doesn't mean much. go look at charity navigator and go though the history. at one time SA was asking people to leave reviews on greatnonprofit. they have been on the security watch on charity navigator. I was a member for many years until all of this happened. step back and look at them inside out. Google Amy palmer I have since found other great places to help support the troops. but never again SA
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Thomas W Crew · 3 years ago
    If Soldiers' Angels is dying, it is because they have chosen to commit suicide. I was told that my wife had
    requested a call back. In fact: She requested not to be
    called again. It is lies such as this that undermine credibility. Why would a legitimate charity engage in
    deliberate self sabotage ?
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Jen · 2 years ago
    I too had been with SA since their humble beginnings as not a living legand team member and adopt a solider. When the head of the LLT stepped down several years ago ( i.e. Fired for disagreeing with Patti and raising concerns with what she saw was financial mismanagement ) and then we were told we could not join another organization while being an SA team member, I missed my soldiers so I looked at rejoining last year and now they want a mandatory $1 a month donation in order to check people's identity. If that was the case, wouldn't they only need a one time $ donation? It's a shame what has happened to this organization...
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Elaine · 2 years ago
    Don't worry Jen,
    Soldiers' Angels is ALIVE & WELL like never before!!

    We are actively volunteering, adopting, supporting, feeding, clothing, visiting and loving our Troops & Veterans and their families like never before!!!

    We are red hot on fire with support for our great military!!!!

    I am SO THANKFUL to be part of a wonderful non-profit organization who LOVES our Men & Women who SERVE!

    I AM HONORED TO BE A SMALL PART OF SOLDIERS' ANGELS!!!

    2017 is going to be a FANTASTIC YEAR!!!!
  • This commment is unpublished.
    Damon · 2 years ago
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