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Stan navigates his veterans’ charities

The holidays are here and, as usual, so are the many solicitations for various charities. It seems as if the number of requests grows annually.

If you received 25 letters last year you’ll get 30 this year. How about the e-mail requests? The same appeals added to many new ones seem to arrive over and over again. The requests that move me and my spirits most are those for the many veteran organizations on television. It breaks my heart to see the men and woman who fought to protect us without arms and legs. My roommate and I are more generous with those groups than with any other.

Stop! Before you take out your checkbook, go to CharitynNavigator.org.

The Navigator ranks not-for-profit organizations on the strength of their finances, their control of administrative and fund-raising expenses, and the transparency of their operations. The group’s highest ranking is four stars. Three stars is almost as good, and also merits some of my donations. Two, one and zero get zilch, nada, bupkis from me, and you’d be shocked to learn how many charities that you may be familiar with overpay their executives, use highly overpriced fund-raisers and merit only one or two stars. Often they are the organizations that sound familiar, but are not the ones you think you know. The names are almost the same but not quite, such as: the Wishing Well Foundation, the Firefighters Charitable Foundation, the Children’s Charity Fund, the National Veterans Services Fund, and the Disabled Police Officer’s Counseling Center. These charities are rated “extremely poor” and receive zero stars. The names sound familiar, but they consistently perform far below industry standards and below nearly all other similar charities. So put your checkbook away.

How much would I send to the Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes, the National Veterans Foundation, the New England Paralyzed Veterans of America, or the Blinded Veterans Association?

Again — nothing. Each of the above so-called veterans organizations receive zero stars and get zippo from me.

On the other hand the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, the Homes for Our Troops, Hope for the Warriors, and the Air Warrior Courage Foundation all receive the highest rating of four stars. These veteran organizations raise funds and do a lot of good to assist the men and women who are Uncle Sam’s first line of defense.

I cannot understand why our government doesn’t pick up the tab. It should. Uncle Sam gives away billions in foreign aid to countries that hate us. They don’t vote with us in the United Nations, their citizens burn our flags regularly, and yet we continue to send billions of dollars that could and should be spent on American veterans.

I am StanGershbein@Bellsouth.net asking what is your thinking about a one year moratorium on foreign aid to the anti-American nations? What do you say, Chuck? How about a response?

Read Stan Gershbein's column every Monday on BrooklynDaily.com.