Salvation Army Kroc Center Protest_What Happens With The Money

"Janet said...
Why don’t they allow any organization to see or audit their financial books so we can see where all this money goes? I think it should be required since they take tax payer’s money. Why should putting a stamp of religion on any charity organization exclude them from accountability?
I also hate the bells everywhere around the holidays. I would never contribute to any organization who doesn’t have their books open and are accountable to no one. There are plenty of celebrity charities out there that use 90+% of the take for operating expenses and only a fraction goes to the actual group they are suppose to be helping. Anotherwords it’s only a way to avoid taxes, laudering their income, provide income and jobs for family and friends.
We should all start our own religious charities. No IRS filings, no property taxes, no accountablity with how we spend the money, free tax payers money without anyone watching to see where that money goes."
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Former employee said...
When working for the Salvation Army for many years, I observed a great many disparities in the organization. First, they perpetuate the myth of helping people, when primarily, the organization is a church and helps those that operate the church. The services provided are often done utilizing government funding which has strict guidelines and limitations in use, thus the organization cannot profit from those funds. The Salvation Army claims these government funding-suppplied services as part of their mission to “help the needy”. The private donations are used for administrative staff and minister salaries, as well as to purchase housing and pay for all expenses for not only the ministers, but their families as well. Much of their touting about “services provided” do not hold water once you realize that they include their church services and other activities as “social services” and “ministering” to the poor. In the area I had worked, I personally observed the Army place 5 sets (couples) of ministers in the community (of less than 800,000 people), where each had a large, modern house purchased for them to use (each house was at least $500,000 each). They do not pay utilities, nor food costs, nor medical/dental (100% covered), they have petty cash accounts for “incidentals” and drive at least two company owned (and insured) vehicles, none of which are marked as “Salvation Army” vehicles (they don’t want to “stand out” as being different). They do not pay for gasoline, nor anything- their children are also covered under the company. They have full cable, internet, cell phones- everything and more than you or I have- ALL FREE. They often work less than 40 hours weekly except on rare occasions requiring a presence. Do some simple math: One city, where houses ares owned, all costs paid, times all the cities the Army is in across the country- the expenses are staggering!
In contrast, the employees (not the church employees) are often paid minimum wage or barely above it, with many on public health and food stamp assistance. The employees’ spouses and kids are not covered under the insurance there unless one pays the normal medical insurance costs- usually $350/month or more. The company controls their own retirement account, paying out little and hoarding a great deal for other business investments.
The organization is not a church, nor a social services provider, but a corporation, plain and simple.
This is the biggest scam in America, and it appears to be working beautifully with everyone’s help, as they continue to raise private funds; if you search the internet, you rarely find any negative commentary about the organization. A hungry news reporter would have a field day investigating and writing a book about this organization! In fairness, they are not the only charity like this, but they are the richest and most successful in the country. Keep on giving your money to them, America, their expenses and appetites are growing…
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"Throwing your money away on large, incompetent and inefficient charities that spend more on public relations in one year than you’ll earn in 20 years, is ridiculous. Anyone supporting those kinds of blind causes is oblivious to reason, like any good religious fanatic supporting their faith. The Salvation Army will sell or drop the Kroc centers once the gravy train ends. They have billions stored in accounts from donated properties sold and banked, as well as other trusts and retirement funds that are left unclaimed. The so-called salary of $14,000 year is only for one of the two, the wife gets equal pay, plus their salaries are largely deferred into retirement and tax-free funds for later use- thus the freebies they enjoy day-to-day are allow them to not require any cash, other than their petty cash accounts. Wake up- give your money to causes that actually do something, get off your butts and go see the charities and what they do, not just listen to the PR reps telling you what you would like to hear. So many people throw money willingly to charities that have “good reputations” but never actually see where their money goes, what it does and whether it went to fill up the local Major’s gas tank, or went for food to give to needy people. AND, they don’t want anyone to point out that their money was probably wasted….better to live in denial and feel good".
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submitted from web site:
Name : T.S. Wilson
From: Ohio
Comments : I'm glad to see that you're publishing a book about The Salvation Army and releasing it on audio as well. I can't wait, as it will help with several things:
1) It will finally force you to crawl out from under your rock and reveal your true identities;
2) It will subject you to full scrutiny and legal action by The Salvation Army and any officer, employee or volunteer within this fine organization that wants to challenge you on these claims;
3) It will give a public forum for The Salvation Army to respond to each and every one of your claims. Obviously, you are editing all of the postings and will ONLY post those who are in support of your ignorant stand;
4) It will allow those of us with financial means to finance any legal action which The Salvation Army wants to take against you. You will no longer be "protected" under free speech of blogging once you are published, and you will have to defend yourselves in an equal game field. I, for one, will personally pay for any legal fees for The Salvatio nArmy to use the full legal action available to sue you on every level possible.

Because you have NO evidence of wrongdoing of behalf of the organization (not just some morons who used to work for it), and their policies are completely open to public review and scrutiny - this will be an easy case to win.
I hope you make a lot of money from your efforts. You'll need it for the attorney fees and inevitable settlement.
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Reply:
OH, CONTRAIRE!
Bring it!! This goes all the way to Washington! Your fraud and greed is going to change the “non-profit” world as we know it…. in spite of all you’re highly paid lobbyist!

P.S. I know you can’t comprehend, but it’s not about money. Complete opposite of you….. mr. salvation army.
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Reply to: Stacked
TSA - Corruption wrote:
I'm truthfully sorry to hear about your father's passing. But you must educate yourself on The Salvation Army.
The only reason they were able to connect your father with the V.A. is because in Denver alone in one of their many "programs" they receive $600.000.00 a year from the V.A. through a per diem "program"
Your Father could have done this on his own utilizing the V.A. services they offer without going through The salvation Army.
In another "Program" in Denver The Salvation Army received $400.000.00 a year getting money from the Department of Corrections to "House" sex offenders released from prison. They abruptly closed the "Program" after neighborhood outcry over 90-100 sex offenders all at the same location near schools and pricey condo's.
I can go on and on I know the Facts I worked for the V.A. in Denver for years helping displaced and homeless Veterans.
It's an outrage and more should get educated on how The Salvation Army is a cult and uses the name of God to help them self's FIRST. Then if there is some week old pastries left over they might give them to the hungry.
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The Salvation Army is one of the wealthiest non-profit organizations in the world and an offshoot of the Methodist tradition. Like many religious institutions and organizations, the Salvation Army has been involved in a number of sexual abuse scandals within the organization that have involved cover-ups and an unwillingness to report or confront abusers within the organization. At the Law Offices of Timothy D. Kosnoff <http://timblair.spaces.live.com/CM/Custom/Firm-Overview.asp>, we are dedicated to bringing sexual abuse charges against perpetrators who work with the Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army is one of many organizations rife with sexual abuse scandals and the victimization of children. We work to confront the abusers and the institutions that support them.
In addition to its support through the contributions of many large benefactors like Mrs. Ray Kroc, wife of the founder of McDonald's restaurants who left a one billion dollar bequest to the Salvation Army, the Salvation Army is the largest recipient of tax dollars among the non-profit organizations in the country. While the organization seeks to help individuals and families in need, it is also a breeding ground for sexual offenses against children and young adults. If the abuse within the institution is not confronted, many of these crimes will go unheard and the victims will be left without a voice.
The Salvation Army is one of many organizations that offer care-giving and social services to children and young adults in need. Often, innocent children are injured by the hands of trusted volunteers and other counselors. If you or someone you love has been injured by a volunteer or employee of the Salvation Army, do not hesitate to contact attorney Timothy D. Kosnoff <http://timblair.spaces.live.com/CM/Custom/Contact.asp>. At the Law Offices of Timothy D. Kosnoff, we are dedicated to bringing abusers to justice and preventing future sexual abuse.
We are dedicated to providing the survivors of sexual abuse a voice in confronting their abusers. In bringing sexual abusers to justice, we are also taking necessary steps toward child abuse prevention.
"Getting justice, dignity and compensation for survivors of childhood sexual abuse is what matters."
We will handle your case confidentially and discreetly. For more information about our firm and services, contact the Law Office of Timothy Kosnoff <http://timblair.spaces.live.com/CM/Custom/Contact.asp>
Free initial consultations • We assist survivors in Washington State, Idaho, and nationally
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Wow wrote:
You really believe that officers live in 500,000 dollar homes and have everything provided? You really think that they work less than 40 hours a week? Wow! Yes, TSA does take care of it's ministers but to say that they have everything paid for and bank everything they get is FAR from the truth! I will be the first to admit that The Salvation Army is far from perfect, but I can not set by and see these things said about an organization that does do the most good that it possibly could and about people that strive to do the best they can. Officers do have houses provided for them but they do NOT own them. It is counted as part of their salary and yet, at retirement, they have nothing but what they have managed to save. Look at it this way, your company pays you a salary, you buy your house, and then they say oh, that was provided by us so we get to keep it. Doesn't sound as good from that side does it. I will admit that officer's are taken care of but they work 6 to 7 day weeks with very little time off. Just ask the child of an officer and find out how much time their parents get to spend with them rather than at the corps. Talk to the husband who just spent the night running the shelter after working a full day because an employee didn't show up or had an emergency. As for the SUV's officer's are provided? SUV's are not even aloud to be bought for the local command. Minivan's, yes, 12 passenger vans, yes. Why, because these are the vehicles that are used to pick up for church services. The only occasion where a car is even aloud is when it is a unit that uses the 12 passenger van so often for corps use that it is not possible for the officer to drive it home in the evenings. Oh, and officer's don't own that either. When they retire, they still have to buy their own. As for our clothing and food being paid for? I bet there a lot of officer's out there that wished this was the case. It is simply not true. Do officer's have medical insurance? You bet ya. Do they pay a deductible every year for their family? Absolutely. Do our employees recieve coverage? Every full time employee is covered by insurance and they are not required to pay for it. Part time employees have the option to pay for it. Name me one other company that provides insurance that does it any differently. Does The Salvation Army pay for officer's vacation? Absolutely NOT. Are they given vacation time? Of course. The same amount of paid vacation that is offered to every emplyee, part time or full time. Does The Salvation Army pay for the gas for the vehicles? Official use only. When an officer takes a company vehicle on vacation, the officer pays for the gas. The Salvation Army does get audited and their financial reports are open for the public. Do you really think that the local Advisory Board would allow a community to keep giving to an agency if they saw things in our financial reports that was not right. Each unit is required to provide this report to their Advisory Board every month. It is closely scrutinized and when something is seen that they think is wrong spending, The Salvation Army has to be accountable to it. They are required to get an outside audit every year to participate in The United Way and they have internal audits at least twice a year. Are there people that do things they shouldn't? Yes. But when this comes to light, The Salvation Army does it's best to correct the problem. We are all human and humans are fallible. Do they strive to help people every day? Yes!! As for requiring people to attend church services to recieve social services, Do you think it would be a little more widely known that The Salvation Army is a Church if the millions of people they helped were reqired to attend religious services. Are there Officer's that do that? Yes. Are they right for doing it? No. I completely agree that a person should be eligible for social services without pressure to attend a church service. Does it make the whole Salvation Army wrong because some people do not do what they are supposed to? No. These are rare cases other than Adult Rehabilitation Centers in which people make a concious decision to participate in and are fully aware of the requirements when they enter the program. You can make numbers look any way you want. It hurts my heart that you call good people who strive to serve humanity corrupt because of a few idiots that have to be dealt with along the way. Come to my local unit and see people being served every day and people who agonize in their offices because there is just not enough funds to help everyone in need in our commmunity. Oh, and BTW, did you know that if a local command does not have enough money after its bills are paid to pay the officer, they go without pay? Ask my mother-in-law. She will tell you about struggling to feed her children when she was in a command that didn't have enough money. She can tell you about eating in the Shelter with the homeless with her children because they had no food at home and they were not paid that week. Why aren't some stories in hear about people like that who have made true sacrifices and have no earthly "treasures" stored up as you would suggest.
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Topix-
Major Ralph Bukiewicz wrote:
<quoted text>
Did you know that the website you posted includes a series of complaints against the Salvation Army that don't have anything to do with your claims - and that the lies and half-truths are designed to try and destroy a church? This is the work of the Devil - and the motives are greed and vengeance.
Unfortunately, the couple who put up this site is very angry after having been fired from the Salvation Army, and they have allowed personal bitterness to take root and affect their spirit (and judgment). Even after they tried to sue the Salvation Army for more than one million dollars (and their lawsuit was thrown out of court) they are just trying to do as much damage on this organization and its leaders as possible.
I live in the neighborhood near the Kroc Center and know how have shamed themselves, accused other business leaders of wrongdoing and bad-mouthed some very good, godly leaders. They are slandering this faith-based organization by claiming that they are cheating the American public out of their public donations and are using them incorrectly. This is FALSE.
I know how much Salvation Army leaders get paid, and what their benefits are, because I serve in their council. The national average is NOT $73,000. In fact, the total package that includes salary, benefits, vehicle, housing and official expenses (all of which are closely scrutinized and audited annually) for our top leaders is less than $50,000 for TWO full-time, married executives.
So, don't be fooled by their lies. Do your own checking. Forbes magazine just released their annual review on charities. They analyze all major non-profits through very strict audit procedures and standards, and Forbes confirms that the Salvation Army is 100% legitimate and THEY DO WHAT THEY SAY THEY WILL DO. We have thousands of people in our community who are served every year because of the public and private funds that are given to the Salvation Army.
Of COURSE the local Salvation Army "corps" (church) is the basis of their programs and services - it is a faith-based organization! You'd think that after this couple was hired to help plant a church that they would know the TRUTH.
Instead, they are only interested in settling this matter one way: to sue and do everything they can to squeeze as much money out of this organization as possible.
SHAME ON THEM!!!
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Reply to: Major Ralph Bukiewicz
The Most Good-REALLY wrote:
Please, allow me to elaborate on this a bit.
What the “major” failed to say, is that The Salvation Army; are the PLAINTIFFS in the suit he makes mention of.
The Salvation Army obtained a contract with the couple, under false pretences.(Lucky for the couple, it was signed in Denver!)
They (TSA) contracted with the couple to plant, what they were told by TSA, would be, and is stated as such in the contract; an “urban” non-denominational church at the new Kroc center, being built in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
They (TSA) moved the couple from Colorado, to Michigan, knowing they (TSA) had intentionally lied too and mislead them.
Once in Michigan, what quickly became evident to the couple was not only that they had been intentionally lied to and mislead….
But, the intentional and level of public deception and wrong doing that goes on behind closed doors, at The Salvation Army.
Legal in Michigan… the couple began taping the meetings with Salvation Army “leaders”. So, yes, there is evidence; tapes, internal emails & documents.
Once the couple began confronting the lies and deceptions of the Salvation Army, refused to join their cult, and in retaliation, they were fired.
The Salvation Army, then ask the couple to sign a confidentially agreement after firing them in exchange for $12,000.00, they refused.
The couple posted a blog: exposingthearmy.blogspot.com . The Google blog account was hacked, password changed and blog deleted,(now back-up) by a Salvation Army leader……forensic evidence will show, the IP address traces back to the Salvation Army.
Days later the couple was served with not only a lawsuit, in which TSA did their best to try and defame the couple. as a matter of public record….. But a restraining order, trying to infringe on the couple’s first amendment right to freedom of speech. In an attempt to have the blog taken down; stating it was disclosing “trade-secrets”.
The story is long and get’s “better”. If it wasn’t a matter of public record, you would not believe some of the things TSA has done! The level of harassment, and unethical attorney behavior, by this so called “church” that is “doing the most good” will wow, dismay and disgust you!
P.S. The amount of donated money spent on this too date… more than $50,000!
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Topix-
Reply from: No Shame Denver wrote:
Why are you impersonating folks, SA Major Ralph B.? You are so fool of yourself! The Salvation Army is not of God, you follow men…. You’re a cult! Slander, the truth is not slander. Everything you have stated in your post is a lie or only 1/4 of the story. But, tick-tock… tick-tock.
You are not the brightest candle in the window….keep it comin!!
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I am a (recent) former employee of one of the SAs Alcohol/Drug rehab centers. I worked in the business office and the unethical and corrupt business practices I witnessed made me sick. As a Christian, I felt that such an organization, doing "the Lord's work" should hold themselves to a much higher standard. All my previous employment was with secular organizations and never did I see the types of goings on as I did at the SA.
The people who come in for "treatment" are referred to as beneficiaries. This designation alone is misleading and inaccurate. These men are required to work (if they can't work, they are not allowed into the program) 8-10 (sometines more) hours a day, 6 days a week. If they are "fortunate" enough to be hired permanently after completing the program, these hours remain the same, and they are paid minimum wage. They are NOT paid for overtime. They are told they can leave if they don't like it. Most of these men are undereducated and have lived a life outside of the norm. No one reports this to the EEOC as they either don't know they can, or are afraid of losing what they believe is their only chance at a job.
Each and every beneficiary is required to apply for food stamps. $200 for each person, per month X 300+-. You do the math. This goes directly to the SA. On top of this they get TONS of food donations from restaurants, stores (Wal-Mart, Target, etc.). These donations sit in the warehouse to well past their expiration date and/or are picked over by employees. The SA enjoys tax-exempt status and have no problem accepting federal funding (in the form of food stamps).
Nepotism is rampant with jobs created for family members when a more capable, current employee could easily fill the position.
The "Captain" and his wife enjoy six, week-long, ALL expenses paid vacations in places such as FL and CA, staying at SA owned condos. Airfare, meals, car rental are all funded by donations. In addition to drawing a salary, every single living expense (except personal cell phones) is paid for by the SA. Catering for personal, upper management events is provided for, gratis, by the center's kitchen staff.
This particular center is funded by 25 thrift stores, reselling donated items. Their profits are in the MILLIONS!
The center's church choir is paid to sing praises to the Lord.
There's more, but I think I've made my point.

Anonymous, for obvious reasons
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