Hannity/north scam troops with “freedom alliance”

[LiberalNation]

what a douche bag

http://www.veteranstoday.com/2010/03...edom-alliance/

The Freedom Concert series that claims to raise money for disabled veterans was just exposed as a near total fraud. Around 5% of intake actually gets distributed to injured service members. The bulk of the spending goes to lavish salaries to consultants and perks given to the fund's administrators.

But despite those lavish expenditures, actual payouts to injured service members is incredible paltry. Here are some eye-opening pay-outs actually given:

Quote:
SM is a bilateral amputee with 30% facial burns sustained during IED blast, 31 May 2008, OEF.


Total given: $165

Quote:
SM was wounded in Iraq by an IED explosion. Lost right arm and severe shrapnel wounds to upper body and face.


Total given: $200

In other words, this charity has taken in literally millions of dollars in donations from people wanting to help injured service members and wasted 95% of this on perks to their own staff.

[Sitarro]

You might want to read the truth before you call someone that has worked very hard and given a tremendous amount of his time for our troops and their kids...... a douche bag. You actually believe that Sean Hannity would risk a very lucrative radio and television career for a few million dollars, much less betray the veterans of this country........ you must think he's a closet liberal.

http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=129553

MEDIA MATTERS
Hannity charity
fights 'smear'
Calls 'scam' accusation against fund for soldiers' kids 'outrageous slander'
Posted: March 19, 2010


© 2010 WorldNetDaily

Sean Hannity
An extensive online blog report accusing Freedom Alliance, founded by Col. Oliver North, as well as its scholarship programs funded by Sean Hannity's annual Freedom Concerts, of being a "scam" and diverting too much money for expenses is being blasted by the organization itself, labeling it "false and malicious" and "outageous slander."

In a headline piece on its website today, the alliance refutes a "blog posting" that makes accusations that money intended for student scholarships has been spent on other expenses, including the personal expenses for Hannity to travel and participate in fundraisers.

"Freedom Alliance has distributed $3.4 million in scholarships and created a Scholarship Trust Fund with the additional money that we have raised for that program. That fund now contains $15 million, over $10 million of which has been raised by Hannity and the concerts," the statement, signed by Alliance President Thomas Kilgannon and Founder Oliver North, said.

"Our scholarship program is managed with the understanding that it will be needed for at least the next 20 years as there are children who will ultimately receive a scholarship who are now only a few years old. As indicated on our Federal Form 990, these funds are restricted and used only for future scholarships."

Hear the stories from those who were there, get "We Were Soldiers."

The statement continued, "Our Scholarship Fund is one of four programs operated by Freedom Alliance. Supporters may donate to a specific program or for general operating purposes. In 2008, Freedom Alliance received $2.1 million in scholarship donations. The same year, we awarded $802,250 in scholarships and applied $1.3 million to our Scholarship Trust Fund."

The charges had been leveled by Debbie Schlussel on her website.

Yesterday, she charged, "For the last several years, Sean Hannity and the Freedom Alliance 'charity' have conducted 'Freedom Concerts' across America. They've told you that they are raising money to pay for the college tuition of the children of fallen soldiers and to pay severely wounded war vets. … But it's all a huge scam."

She charged that less than 20 percent – "and in two recent years, less than 7 percent and 4 percent, respectively – of the money raised by Freedom Alliance went to these causes, while millions of dollars went to expenses, including consultants and apparently to ferry the Hannity posse of family and friends in high style."

Specifically, she charged that a source told her "there'd be a lot more money every concert to go to the cause if Hannity didn't demand – and get – use of a Gulfstream 5 plane to fly him and his family/entourage to the concerts; a 'fleet' (that's the word the guy used) of either Cadillac or Lincoln SUVs for him and his family/entourage; and several suites at really expensive hotels for him and his family/entourage."

She also wrote that she "began investigating these claims" to find out "Freedom Alliance gives very little money to the children of slain troops to pay for college and even less to wounded troops."

"False and malicious," was the conclusion of Freedom Alliance.

"The blog posting accuses our friend Sean Hannity of personally benefiting from Freedom Alliance. This is FALSE. Freedom Alliance has never provided planes, hotels, cars, limos, or anything else to Sean. Sean gets nothing from Freedom Alliance except our gratitude for his personal generosity and for all he has done to help the troops and our organization. … But to be clear, Sean pays for all his own transportation, hotels, and all related expenses for himself and his family and friends and staff, which over the years has added up to tens of thousands of dollars. He does not use any Freedom Alliance Funds or Concert funds in any way, period," the organization stated.

Further, "Sean Hannity has contributed $100,000 to the Wounded Warriors Foundation, over $200,000 to the Freedom Alliance, and over tens of thousands of dollars to other military charities and individuals. We only make this information public because of the outrageous slander against him. Sean has no management or operational involvement in, or control over, Freedom Alliance. He has been a selfless patriot in his efforts to raise funds for the education of children of armed services personnel," the group said.

It released figures, too, showing that in 2008 the group spent $6.7 million, including $5.3 million on program activities, $945,000 on fundraising and $481,000 on management.

The organization distributed $3.4 million in scholarships and created a trust for additional scholarships to be paid in future years.

"That fund now contains $15 million, over $10 million of whicih has been raised by Hannity and the concerts," the posting said.

[LiberalNation]

$200,000 to the Freedom Alliance

contributing to your own fake charity, can someone smell a tax break. If you don't think this "charity" is fishy your liven in a dream world.

[LiberalNation]

For the last several years, Sean Hannity and the Freedom Alliance “charity” have conducted “Freedom Concerts” across America. They’ve told you that they are raising money to pay for the college tuition of the children of fallen soldiers and to pay severely wounded war vets. And on Friday Night, Hannity will be honored with an award for this “Outstanding Community Service by a Radio Talk Show Host” at Talkers Magazine’s convention.

But it’s all a huge scam.

In fact, less than 20%–and in two recent years, less than 7% and 4%, respectively–of the money raised by Freedom Alliance went to these causes, while millions of dollars went to expenses, including consultants and apparently to ferry the Hannity posse of family and friends in high style. And, despite Hannity’s statements to the contrary on his nationally syndicated radio show, few of the children of fallen soldiers got more than $1,000-$2,000, with apparently none getting more than $6,000, while Freedom Alliance appears to have spent tens of thousands of dollars for private planes. Moreover, despite written assurances to donors that all money raised would go directly to scholarships for kids of the fallen heroes and not to expenses, has begun charging expenses of nearly $500,000 to give out just over $800,000 in scholarships.

In February 2009, a well-known conservative writer sent me this, about a friend at FOX News:

The guy went on to tell me about Hannity’s “Freedom Concerts,” which are staged across the country with the proceeds going to children of slain soldiers. Of course, as the guy tells it, there’d be a lot more money every concert to go to the cause if Hannity didn’t demand–and get–use of a Gulfstream 5 plane to fly him and his family/entourage to the concerts; a “fleet” (that’s the word the guy used) of either Cadillac or Lincoln SUVs for him and his family/entourage; and several suites at really expensive hotels for him and his family/entourage. The promoter apparently values Hannity’s star demands at well over $200,000 per event. The source says he heard that Oliver North pulled Hannity aside at one of the concerts and told him that this had to stop. But that may mean that, from now on, Hannity has to fly on a G4 instead of a G5, gets only a few luxury SUVs, and two or three suites.

North is the founder and honorary chairman of Freedom Alliance.

I began investigating these claims, and lo and behold, I discovered that Freedom Alliance gives very little money to the children of slain troops to pay for college and even less to wounded troops. The stories of injuries to troops and how much Freedom Alliance gives them–$200 for a soldier from a poor neighborhood who lost three limbs–is heartbreaking. Soldiers with traumatic brain injuries, severe wounds to the face from disfiguring burns and explosions, and multiple amputations got $1,000 or less, with only a handful of exceptions.

The tax forms available to the public for the Freedom Alliance–for the years 2006-2008–paint a tragic story, a story of a charity that makes gazillions and spends very little for the purposes it claims, a charity that spends millions more on its small staff and crony consultants than it ever gives in scholarships to the children of the fallen or severely injured troops or in aid to the injured troops themselves. While Hannity’s Freedom Concerts take in millions, only a few hundred thousand go to the claimed intended recipients.

Over a year ago, when I began looking into this story, I contacted both Sean Hannity and the Freedom Alliance seeking comment and an accounting for where the money went. Both declined to answer any of my questions. Hannity refused to respond to an inquiry I sent to his personal private e-mail address asking him about the lavish expenses described in the e-mail above.

Freedom Alliance press secretary Alan Moore scheduled an interview for me with Freedom Alliance president Thomas Kilgannon, who in the past used Freedom Alliance resources to promote a book he wrote on the United Nations. But when Moore asked me what the interview would be about and I answered truthfully, the interview was not granted, and my calls to him were never returned thereafter. I told him I’d be asking Mr. Kilgannon about the expenses paid for Hannity and about the paltry percentage of Freedom Alliance funds actually going to the kids of fallen troops, to severely injured troops, and to anything other than expenses, consultants, and printing. I wanted to know why Freedom Alliance had spent $60,000 for “aviation services” in 2006.

Keep in mind that a charity is considered reputable if no more than 25% of its revenue goes to expenses and no less than 75% of it goes to the intended charity recipients. Given that, Freedom Alliance’s balance sheets are embarrassing in their shamelessness.

According to its 2006 tax returns, Freedom Alliance reported revenue of $10, 822, 785, but only $397,900–or a beyond-measly 3.68%–of that was given to the children of fallen troops as scholarships or as aid to severely injured soldiers.

On the other hand, 62% of the money went to “expenses,” including $979,485 for “consultants” and an “advisor.” Yes, consultant/advisors got more than double what injured troops and the kids of fallen troops got. The tax forms show that “New World Aviation” got paid $60,601 for “air travel.” Was that for Hannity’s G5? Like I said, neither the charity nor Hannity is talking. And finally, that year, Freedom Alliance spent $1,730,816 on postage and shipping and $1,414,215 on printing, for a total of $3,145,031, nearly half the revenue the charity spent that year and about eight times what the injured troops and the children of fallen ones received.

That’s especially heartbreaking when you compare the hundreds of thousands consultants got and the millions spent on printing and postage to the outrageously small amounts given to wounded soldiers. In 2006, Freedom Alliance gave only $1,000 to a soldier from Bay City, Michigan, whom the charity says was in the following condition:

Face was blown up and lost sight in one eye.

And that $1,000 was relatively generous, when you consider this soldier from Romulus, Michigan, whom Freedom Alliance only gave $200:

SM [serviceman] was involved in roadside bomb incident in Iraq, which caused loss of both legs and left arm.

Romulus is a mostly Black Detroit suburb, which is one of the poorest cities in Michigan and in America. Freedom Alliance gave this brave soldier roughly $67 per limb. That’s sickening.

So is the fact that this soldier, from Alexandria, Virginia, also only got $200 from Freedom Alliance:

SM was wounded in Iraq by an IED explosion. Lost right arm and severe shrapnel wounds to upper body and face.

Also appalling is the fact that in each year’s tax returns soldiers described as having brain trauma injuries, multiple amputated limbs, and severe burns over most of their bodies get a few hundred bucks each from Freedom Alliance and in almost every case, no more than $1,000.

That year, while fat-cat consultants and expenses took millions of Freedom Alliance’s money, seriously wounded troops to whom Freedom Alliance donated received a pathetic average of $785 each and the college student kids of the fallen got a paltry average of $2,943 toward tuition. Yes, out of millions raised that year by Sean Hannity at his Freedom Concerts, only $309,000 was given out in scholarships to 105 students, and only $110,703.82 was given to the wounded soldiers.

Freedom Alliance’s 2007 tax returns aren’t much better. Out of $12,459,317 it raised that year, only $895,347–or just 7%–went to seriously wounded troops and scholarships for fallen troops. 53% went to expenses, including $1,464,627 in postage and $1,151,428 in printing. $604,995 went to “professional fees” and “consultants.” Out of millions paid for Freedom Concert tickets and raised in fundraisers by Hannity listeners, only $596,500 went to college scholarships for soldiers who died in battle, and only $299,897 went to horribly injured troops. 208 student children of the fallen got an average of $2,868 apiece for tuition, though many got only $1,000 or less. 382 soldiers with serious injuries got an average of $785 each.

And, again, that year, the amounts given to soldiers with such grave injuries is despicably tiny. This soldier, from Killeen, Texas, got only $500 from Freedom Alliance:
~snip rest at link.

[LiberalNation]

tax return link, straight from the source. Turns out that if you gave ten bucks, you would be lucky if eighty cents went to assist the family of a fallen or killed service member, while Hannity claims 100% goes to them.

http://www.debbieschlussel.com/wp-co...etaxes2006.pdf

[red states rule]

LN, you either a liar or fool

Here are the facts

False Accusations

1. The blog posting accuses our friend Sean Hannity of personally benefiting from Freedom Alliance. This is FALSE. Freedom Alliance has never provided planes, hotels, cars, limos, or anything else to Sean. Sean gets nothing from Freedom Alliance except our gratitude for his personal generosity and for all he has done to help the troops and our organization. We have never had to ask Sean for anything, he always generously offers his help before we have a chance to ask him. But to be clear Sean pays for all his own transportation, hotels, and all related expenses for himself and his family and friends and staff, which over the years has added up to tens of thousands of dollars. He does not use any Freedom Alliance Funds or Concert funds in any way, period.


2. Sean Hannity has contributed $100,000 to the Wounded Warriors Foundation, over $200,000 to the Freedom Alliance, and over tens of thousands of dollars to other military charities and individuals. We only make this information public because of the outrageous slander against him. Sean has no management or operational involvement in, or control over, Freedom Alliance. He has been a selfless patriot in his efforts to raise funds for the education of children of armed services personnel.


3. The blog posting accuses Freedom Alliance of spending less than 20% of money raised on program activities. This is FALSE. Listed below are the amounts that Freedom Alliance spent for each of the past three years and the categories on which they were spent. The figures are taken from our Federal Form 990 which is filed with the Internal Revenue Service and posted on our web site and audited by an independent auditor using Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. This financial record not only meets, but exceeds standards of program efficiency set by most charity evaluators.


4. In 2008, Freedom Alliance spent a total of $6,745,717. Of that:

• • •

79 percent ($5,317,970) was spent on Program Activities 14 percent ($945,950) was spent on Fundraising 7 percent ($481,797) was spent on ManagementIn 2007, Freedom Alliance spent a total of $7,461,350. Of that:

• 81.5 percent ($6,084,474) was spent on Program Activities • 13.5 percent ($1,011,501) was spent on Fundraising • 5 percent ($365,375) was spent on Management


In 2006, Freedom Alliance spent a total of $7,064,839. Of that:


• 77 percent ($5,434,538) was spent on Program Activities • 18.5 percent ($1,308,414) was spent on Fundraising • 4.5 percent ($321,887) was spent on Management

http://radioequalizer.blogspot.com/2...ires-back.html

[Kathianne]

I'm no Hannity fan, but what was written has the markings of libel. They refer to the tax documents, found at their site-check all dates, sweetie:

http://www.freedomalliance.org/image...e_response.pdf

March 18, 2010

Dear Friends of Freedom Alliance:

This week, false and malicious allegations about Freedom Alliance were posted on the Internet and we want
to address them with you. We don’t know the motivation for these vicious smears, but we will not allow
them to go unanswered.

First, we want to thank you for your support and assure you that Freedom Alliance’s record of financial
stewardship and programmatic achievements not only meets, but exceeds standards of program efficiency
set by most charity evaluators. We are extraordinarily proud of our work at Freedom Alliance and stand by
our efforts 100 percent...

False Accusations

1. The blog posting accuses our friend Sean Hannity of personally benefiting from Freedom Alliance. This
is FALSE. Freedom Alliance has never provided planes, hotels, cars, limos, or anything else to Sean. Sean
gets nothing from Freedom Alliance except our gratitude for his personal generosity and for all he has
done to help the troops and our organization. We have never had to ask Sean for anything, he always
generously offers his help before we have a chance to ask him. But to be clear Sean pays for all his own
transportation, hotels, and all related expenses for himself and his family and friends and staff, which
over the years has added up to tens of thousands of dollars. He does not use any Freedom Alliance Funds
or Concert funds in any way, period.

...

Our Scholarship Fund is one of four programs operated by Freedom Alliance. Supporters may donate to 6.
a specific program or for general operating purposes. In 2008, Freedom Alliance received $2.1 million in
scholarship donations. The same year, we awarded $802,250 in scholarships and applied $1.3 million to
our Scholarship Trust Fund. The funds donated by Sean Hannity directly -- or through the proceeds of
the Freedom Concerts -- and the support of thousands of Americans are used for these purposes:

Freedom Alliance Scholarship Fund• : Providing scholarships to those whose parents have been
killed or severely injured in their service to our Country. There is now over $15 million in the
scholarship fund for the students as they come of age.

Support our Troops• : Many events each year are planned and executed by our staff to show
appreciation and provide special opportunities for those actively serving in the military.

Leadership Academy• : A program for high school students in which they are encouraged and trained
to serve their country.
These programs would not be possible without the support of Mr. Hannity and many others.
We are proud of our work and numerous accomplishments. We are grateful to our supporters whose
voluntary contributions make it possible and we thank you. While it is discouraging to have our record
misrepresented in such a malicious way, our work is important and, with your support, it will continue.
Respectfully,



Thomas P. Kilgannon Oliver L. North
President Founder & Honorary Ch

[PostmodernProphet]

tax return link, straight from the source. Turns out that if you gave ten bucks, you would be lucky if eighty cents went to assist the family of a fallen or killed service member, while Hannity claims 100% goes to them.

http://www.debbieschlussel.com/wp-co...etaxes2006.pdf

???....uh, LN?....I looked over the tax return and it doesn't support what you just posted.......your source is apparently the scam artist.....

[LiberalNation]

Did you see the almost $10 million in securities versus $320k in scholarships.

[Missileman]

Did you see the almost $10 million in securities versus $320k in scholarships.

It's a scholarship fund that they hope lasts at least 20 years. Why would you expect them to spend ALL of it in 1 year?

[LiberalNation]

if you say so.

[Gaffer]

Most of the kids are not of college age. The funds are there for when they reach that age. Right now there are not that many to go to college so the scholarships don't add up to much.

[krisy]

Most of the kids are not of college age. The funds are there for when they reach that age. Right now there are not that many to go to college so the scholarships don't add up to much.

good point gaffer!

[Sitarro]

It's a scholarship fund that they hope lasts at least 20 years. Why would you expect them to spend ALL of it in 1 year?

Exactly, the blogger may have been too stupid to understand that or purposely wrote her article knowing that most of the dolts that would agree with her wouldn't figure that out and would just jump on the chance to criticize and condemn something great because of their hatred of Hannity.

You would think that most of the critics would understand the amount of decent people involved from politicians to celebrities and entertainers would not allow any of the crap described to happen but that is the gotcha environment we live in.

[LiberalNation]

.......

Of every dollar donated to the Red Cross, 91 cents goes toward aid, while nine cents covers the cost of running the non-profit, including salaries, administration, and fundraising.

American Red Cross

Uses of Funds as a % of Total Expenses

Programs: 90% Fund Raising: 4% Administrative: 6%
http://www.bbb.org/charity-reviews/n...hington-dc-679

Seems a little different than what you read in Freedom Alliance's tax return: 7% of income on programs and 93% of income on expenses. The nice thing is that you can look at the tax returns of each entity and come to your own conclusion.