From The Denver Post, 3/16/06:
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_3606386
Senator's charity "a weak effort"
Wiens' late filing shows less than half of donations aided military
kin
By Mark P. Couch
Denver Post Staff Writer
A state lawmaker Wednesday released the annual tax filing for the
charitable group he established, showing only 46 percent of donations
went to financially strapped military families.
Sen. Tom Wiens, R-Castle Rock, reported to the Internal Revenue
Service that the Stand in the Gap Project collected $119,336 in 2004,
passing $54,472 along to needy families.
That's far below the 60 percent to 70 percent of donations that one
charity watchdog says should be funneled to programs.
"It's a weak effort," said Daniel Borochoff, president of the American
Institute of Philanthropy, based in Chicago.
"People in those positions could have done more to help military
families."
The Stand in the Gap Project came under scrutiny Tuesday when Wiens
acknowledged the group had never filed its required report with the
Internal Revenue Service.
In an interview, Wiens said that about 70 families with late mortgage
payments, overdue insurance bills and other financial problems were
helped.
Citing confidentiality agreements, he declined to name families.
He provided a redacted list of the checks the group had written.
Wiens started the Stand in the Gap Project in 2004, during his final
year in the House of Representatives and while preparing a run for the
state Senate.
Wiens is president of the group and fellow lawmakers joined him on the
board.
Current House Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker, is treasurer.
May said he has not been active with the group for a year.
Wiens also sponsored a resolution that was passed by the state
legislature in February 2004 that encourages Coloradans to find out
how to contribute money to Stand in the Gap Project.
Of the $119,336 the project collected that year, $100,000 came from
military contractor Lockheed Martin.
Senate President Joan FitzGerald, D-Jefferson County, called for
scrutiny of the deal.
"I think we should give Sen. Wiens every opportunity to explain the
way this organization has been managed," FitzGerald said.
"Especially since the legislature has gotten entangled with members on
the board and with a resolution."
Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany, R-Colorado Springs, said he
didn't think the Wiens- run charity warranted a formal investigation
like those launched against two other lawmakers this session.
"Based on the information I have right now, I don't know that that's
an appropriate step," McElhany said.
"If there's more to it, then we'll take a look at it."
One former executive director of Stand in the Gap said she was unaware
of the group's failure to file its tax return with the IRS.
"That was not my fault," said Phyllis Derby, who was executive
director for seven months beginning in July 2004.
"I am a 'cross the t's and dot the i's' kind of woman."
Derby, who was paid $13,684, said she lived with Wiens and his family
during her tenure and spent three to four days a week working on Stand
in the Gap Project's efforts.
She said she helped screen applicants who were seeking financial
support.
Derby now runs another effort to aid military families, Homefront
Heroes, based in Grand Junction.
In 2005, former board members of Homefront Heroes accused Derby of
racking up a $9,000 cellphone bill that she billed back to the
charity.
The board ultimately approved the expense and the accusations did not
yield an investigation by law enforcement, Derby said.
According to Stand in the Gap's tax form, dated March 15, the project
paid $26,750 in compensation to officers and directors and $10,322 in
other salaries and benefits.
Wiens contended that salary expenses should also count as direct aid
to the military families, which is not the standard measure used by
other philanthropies.
Stand in the Gap has struggled to raise money since it collected the
$100,000 contribution from Lockheed Martin.
Earlier this week, Wiens said he refers most donors and people seeking
help to another charitable group based in Colorado Springs.
On Wednesday, he said he would continue to make referrals but might
revive Stand in the Gap Project's efforts.
Borochoff, the charity watchdog, said that approach is not the most
efficient way to help people because it consumes money that other
agencies might distribute more efficiently.
"It's wasteful for him to start something and not follow through on
it," Borochoff said.
"He would have been better off giving that $100,000 to the Red Cross."
______________________________________________________
Phony scum. Republican "Family Values", ya see.
Harry
.
|
