Watch Live: Congressional Hearing on IRS Scandal

Live Now on TheBlaze Radio: ‘The Buck Sexton Show’

Faith

‘We Were Heartbroken’: Wounded Warrior Project Reportedly Refused to Take Church’s ‘Religious in Nature’ Donation

Feb. 1, 2013 5:43pm Jason Howerton

Wounded Warrior Project Reportedly Refused to Take Churchs Money

(Source: Fox News)

Wounded Warrior Project is refusing to accept a Florida Christian church’s money because it is “religious in nature,” Fox News’ Todd Starnes reports. Liberty Baptist Church and Academy, located in Fort Pierce, Fla., is also a K-12 school.

“We were heartbroken,” Pastor Wallace Cooley told Fox News.

It wasn’t until after Liberty Baptist Church and Academy had already paid a $100 registration fee to raise funds for Wounded Warrior Project that the they received an email from the non-profit organization.

“We must decline the opportunity to be the beneficiary of your event due to our fundraising event criteria, which doesn’t allow community events to be religious in nature,” WWP’s community events team wrote in an email. “Please note your registration fee will be refunded within the next 7-10 business days.”

Because Wounded Warrior Project considers itself to be a nonpartisan organization, the group says it can’t accept fundraising from companies “in which the product or message is religious in nature.”

The church was reportedly planning to accept a special offering on the last Sunday in February and students were collecting money from family and friends to give to WWP.

“We had to tell our children and parents we can’t give to the Wounded Warrior Project…We are second-class citizens now because we are people of faith,” Cooley told Fox News.

The pastor said the church anticipated bringing in roughly $50,000 for military veterans.

The email the church received from Wounded Warrior (Source: Fox News)

Fox News has more details:

A Wounded Warrior told Fox News they would look into the matter. The organization did not respond to subsequent telephone calls.

The fundraising project was a joint effort by the 400-member church and the 460 students who attend the academy. The pastor said he first learned about WWP by watching Fox News Channel.

“We appreciate the freedoms we enjoy in this country and the fact that our soldiers have fought for freedom of religion,” he said. “We teach patriotism in our school.”

Kindergarten teacher Tanya Sue Albritton posted a message on the Wounded Warrior Project Facebook page, explaining that her students were devastated.

“They were very sad,” she wrote. “One little girl wanted to know, ‘Why can’t we share with the soldiers?’”

“I was at a loss as to what I should tell her because I don’t understand it myself…Well, WWP, why can’t we share with the soldiers,” she added.

In delivering the news to his congregation, Pastor Cooley penned what he described as “one of the saddest letters I have ever had to write”:

“We are very disappointed that we, as a religious organization, are being discriminated against. But they are a private organization and have and should have the freedom to make their own rules.”

Cooley said the donations that were made have been returned and the church is currently looking for another veterans group to help — one that will accept their generous donation.

TheBlaze has reached out to Wounded Warrior Project and will update this story as additional information becomes available.

To read Fox News’ full report, click here.

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Back to The Blaze »

Comments (465)

Chuck T
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 9:39pm
What the hell has happened to the Wounded Warrior Project? Now THEY’ve gone PC too? I really don’t recognize my country anymore.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
tomf
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 9:35pm
WWP took in 74 million Dollars in 2011. According to Charity Navigator they allocate 55 percent to program expenses and 45 percent to fundraising and admin costs. I will not give them a dime. It looks like their board of directors are listed in Wikipedia along with the executive officers

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- slr4528
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 9:39pm
  I have seen that informtion as well and after this piece of information I am done with this organization. It looks like it is turning into another political front group for the leftists!!!!!!!
  
  Report this comment
bdodger
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 9:32pm
This is very unfortunate for those wounded warriors that need the support. Money is money it does not discriminate. WWP spends over 21 Milon fund raising but refuses $$$ from religious organizations and Gun interests ,,stupid

Check them out on Charity Navigator
http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=12842

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
searching for the Truth
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 9:25pm
The Prophet, the Mule, and the Bag of Money.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
countrygirl56
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 9:10pm
Looks like we’ve made our LAST monthly donation to WWP!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
wolverine
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 9:03pm
I am not much a Christian buy you had better believe that the wounded warrior project will not ever see my money

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Inlightofthings
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 8:55pm
They are toast for being sanctimonious and self righteous. CLEARLY someone is getting paid way too much to run this group.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
blankster
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 8:47pm
Haven’t figured WWP out…IIRC, they recently also were fond of turning down donations and offers of publicity from pro-NRA/2ndAmend/guns groups. Don’t know why but they’re doing themselves a disservice. Would love to know what’s motivating it.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Charles Curtis
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 8:45pm
http://vimeo.com/58555459

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
yiska8
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 8:44pm
Sometimes these foundations get too big for their britches and it hurts the ones they are supposed to be helping. Remember what the Red Cross did during Hurricane Sandy. They wanted money instead of useable clothing and canned food from the Romney supporters. I cannot believe a projected $50K was denied to the vets who need the help, but no doubt another organization helping veterans and their families will accept any donation from a Christian church and school. That letter sounded coldly bureaucratic and something the government would send out.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
searching for the Truth
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 8:44pm
The Lord is on His way.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- searching for the Truth
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 8:50pm
  I believe He left out almost an hour ago.
  
  Report this comment
churchee
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 8:41pm
I believe the TV commercial for WWP I had seen repeatedly (but curiously, not recently) was Trace Adkins singing “Say a prayer for peace….” One would be led to believe that people of faith were the folks they were trying to appeal to. Maybe they have had a change of heart. What a shame. I am sure the wounded warriors they serve believed that freedom OF religion was one of the values they were fighting for.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
HOLYSMOKES
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 8:39pm
What does it matter where or who the money comes from? I cannot believe WWP could not use 50k for our soldiers! Is there anything in this country that has any sanity left? I have to hope this is misunderstanding.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
H-Rock 75
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 8:34pm
To WWP: My grandfather was a POW and he had a saying: “Beggars can’t be choosers.”
If you have enough donations to give refunds, don’t expect any donations from me.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Athinker
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 8:29pm
I am now NO longer a supporter of this organization…I WILL now retrieve my monthly contribution…..I am very sad to hear of this principle (no religious organization even can contribute to) that the organization apparently believes MORE than helping Wounded Warriors!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Leveraction3030
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 8:22pm
Blaze Boys.
Dig up the facts on this and follow up with us. Charity Navigator tells quite a bit about every charity. I am surprised WWP is not a shining star as I had hoped. What a shame. High paid executives and the percentage going actually to the wounded warrior’s is way to low for a well run charity.
I hope Trace Atkins and the others look into who they are working for or donating time for. I smell a rat when a charity keeps so much for themselves.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
neverending
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 8:21pm
Beyond disgusting but just another sign of how badly we have lost our way. Saddest part of all, once again those who had nothing to do with the decision and need it most won’t get it. Have they not sacrificed enough?

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
randy1bella2
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 8:20pm
I am most surprised about the WWP. It should be the opposite–regardless of your type of institution, you should be able to give and use the logo–even if you have to have a disclaimer when you use it–something like “WWP does not necessarily endorse the given organization’s goals etc…”
WWP should know that prior to Christianity there was no real charity trait (no Bill Gates; Gates is a by product of the Christian West, even as he denies his God) in any society; and in a post-Christian world WWP-like organization will dry up or not even get started–we are heading there though.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
virtualjohn
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 8:17pm
There are some good alternative charities to help our wounded warriors besides ‘Wounded Warriors’. My experience with the ‘Wounded Warriors’ outfit so far is they picked a catchey name. I don’t give them any money because of other less intelligent decisions they have made. One I do give to helps offers Equine assisted Psychotherapy to veterans. Animals are great healers and horses are big animals so Cowboy Up! You can give to Combat Veterans Cowboy Up at: http://www.combatveteranscowboyup.org/Site/Home.html

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
Springfield45
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 8:16pm
First they refuse to work with firearm companies, now religious groups. I am done with them. There are many other groups that help our wonderful veterans. Sadly, most are not very well known in comparison. Post some of your favorite here!

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
dodgedart1966
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 8:02pm
I think it’s a fine policy. It’s unfortunate, but it also prevents the Muslim Brotherhood from donating and using their logo and saying “See, we love Americans”, all the while hating Americans.
It would be just another small step of infiltrating our culture with theirs.(Sharia law?)
Unfortunate that we must think this way today, but…….we do.

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- dodgedart1966
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 8:07pm
  Why does a lawnmower have a sticker that warns “Do not pick up the mower and trim the shrubs”?
  It’s common sense to most, but you must protect yourself.
  There’s no saying that the church can’t give, they just can’t use their logo for fundraising, that’s all.
  
  Report this comment
Mr.Fitnah
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 7:57pm
Something is seriously wrong here.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
spidah59
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 7:56pm
WWP will not work with Firearms companies either. There are many other great organizations that do. Do not support WWP!!

Report this comment
Log in to ReplyReply
- chips1
  Posted on February 1, 2013 at 8:41pm
  Isn’t it odd that the companies that manufacture weapons are the same companies that develope defense for our troops. Without them, the progressives would provide purses for them to swing at the enemy.
  
  Report this comment
harleyman
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 7:51pm
I have given to Wounded Warrier and have one of their shirts. I won’t give again or put on their shirt. I’m sick and tired of the Church and Christianity being treated like the plague.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply
FreeUsAll
Posted on February 1, 2013 at 7:44pm
I make a better pledge to helping wounded warriors… by standing against sending them to war in the first place. The elitist chicken-hawks don’t seem to mind, however.

Report this comment
Log in to Reply Reply

It appears that you have Javascript Disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser preferences for a better user experience on TheBlaze. You can not comment without Javascript enabled.