A recognized and widely-esteemed leader in the Special Forces community and Executive Director of the Green Beret Foundation, Jennifer Paquette, was recently honored by the United States Special Operations Command for her tireless work in support of Special Operations Forces and more specifcally -- the Special Forces "Green Berets". Ms. Paquette received USSOCOM's "Patriot" award March 2, 2017 in Tampa, Florida. She was recognized for her service to the SOF Community that spans well over a decade.
The prestigious award, established in 2007, is the highest honor USSOCOM gives to civilians and is designed to recognize "those individuals who go above and beyond to support Special Operators and their families". Paquette has had the honor of supporting hundreds of Green Berets and their families and raised millions of dollars in support of the Green Beret Foundation - a non-profit which promises to "answer the call of Green Berets and their families so that they can succeed in their next mission".
"I recognize and am honored and humbled that I have been afforded the opportunity to support this elite unit and their families. For a female to be leading an organization that supports an all male unit, is a big deal to me. The fact that a fraternal brotherhood that has been underground for decades allows me to hold a trusted position does not go unnoticed by me. Also there would be no reason to honor me with an award if it weren't the work of the Green Berets and SOF at large," Said Paquette.
Jen has many career achievements over her 25 year career but creating the Steel Mags sorority, a program under the GBF, is one she is particularly proud of.
"I have found my people-girls that are cut from the same cloth being tenacious, steadfast, loyal, dependable for the Special Forces Regiment and their families and local communities. They are just as intelligent and driven by purpose as their Green Berets. These women are my family. I may have founded the sorority but these women have built it and gave legs to the vision," Paquette says.
Paquette identified a need for this special sorority after her husband SSG (R) Roland Paquette, a Green Beret medic, was traumatically injured by an IED blast while serving with 3rd Special Forces supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. "Jen is a very tenacious, loyal and driven person. She doesn't take no for an answer and does not shy away from a challenge even when others say 'Don't do it. You will fail'. When I enlisted, she enlisted with me. We are a team." Says Roland. Roland has since successfully transitioned from military service as a combat medic to a business owner of Med Training Group and an emergency room Physician Assistant.
Realizing that US Army Special Forces have been in the longest hot war in American history, Jen knew that our Green Beret marriages were maturing and children were growing up dealing with the effects of war. Her line of thinking is if we can attempt to keep the ladies and kids supported and as healthy as possible, our Green Berets can focus on the mission at hand whether that mission is being deployed, dealing with an injury or transitioning to civilian life. "Let's share the burden," she believes.
The Steel Mags started with a small group out of Ft. Bragg, NC. They have since grown to be a national group and have been mobilized throughout the country supporting each other, their local communities and teaching even civilian young girls and ladies the philosophies of the Spartan female force of the sorority.
Green Berets are particularly known for their high-deployment rates and consistent high-risk missions; they have the highest per-capita casualty rate of any unit in the US military. Given the intensity of the service and sacrifice, Jen's creation of Steel Mags appears to address an intense "need" in an empathic and vital fashion.
Uniquely positioned to understand and provide essential support to the SOF community, Paquette has a long history of service; she is on the Board of Advisors for the National Special Forces Green Beret Memorial Project near Ft. Bragg, NC. She has been active with JINSA, AIPAC, and Catholic Charities. She was selected for the 2012 Outstanding Young San Antonian award. Jen is also an Honorary Member of the Special Forces Association.
As Executive Director of the GBF, she manages critical aspects of day- to-day operations and handles strategic business development at the Foundation including strategic planning, fundraising, building and maintaining donor and investor relationships, coordination of services with USSOCOM Care Coalition, USASFC, USASOC and delivering those services to Green Berets and their families.
Green Beret Foundation Chairman of the Board Ret. Maj. Gen. Simeon Trombitas expressed enthusiasm for Jennifer's service to the Special Forces community. "Jen is an incredible asset to the Special Forces community. Her commitment has been incredible in times of great stress. Our Green Berets are much better off for having her support. Her efforts come at a critical time of need for Green Berets --- because Special Forces global deployment rates are not expected to slow down anytime soon," he said.
Ms. Paquette earned her B.S. in Business Administration majoring in Supply Chain Management from Arizona State University and her Master's in Public Administration with a concentration in Not-for-Profits and Public Policy from St. Mary's University. She is a member of Business Executives for National Security, the San Antonio Downtown Rotary Club, the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, and an associate member to the OSS Society.
"Strong Females. Strong Societies" says Paquette.
The above article came from the SF Brothers Facebook site.
Showing posts with label Green Beret Foundation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Green Beret Foundation. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Monday, February 1, 2016
Wounded Warrior Project overspends on its staff, ex-employees say
The Wounded Warrior Project, a national nonprofit organization that supports service members wounded in the line of duty, has been accused of blowing millions of dollars in donation money on spoils for its staff, according to a new two-part CBS News investigation.
The CBS investigation was reportedly inspired by Charity Navigator, a nonprofit organization that promotes fiscal transparency among charities. Its scrutiny of public records found that WWP spent 60 percent of its donations on veterans, the remainder of which the CBS News team set out to account for.
"According to the charity's tax forms, spending on conferences and meetings went from $1.7 million in 2010, to $26 million in 2014," the report reads. "That's about the same amount the group spends on combat stress recovery — its top program."
SFA Commo Sergeant Comments: Some of the best rated Veterans Groups with well over 90% of proceeds going to the Vets are:
The Task Force Dagger Foundation
The Green Beret Foundation
Special Operations Warrior Foundation
Article from Military Times
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Wounded Warrior Project Under Fire
Is a much-touted charity for American veterans everything it says it is? Not so, from this article from The Daily Beast.
Over the past decade, the Wounded Warrior Project has emerged to become one of the celebrated charities in the country—but with its prominence comes deeper scrutiny and criticism.
It’s a broad but closely held sentiment within the veterans’ advocacy community: grumbling and critiques about the fundraising behemoth WWP has become, and whether it has been as effective as it could be.
In interviews, critical veterans’ advocates and veterans charged that the Wounded Warrior Project cares more about its image than it does about helping veterans; that it makes public splashes by taking vets on dramatic skydiving trips but doesn’t do enough to help the long-term wellbeing of those injured in combat.
These criticisms come from a broad cross-section of veterans and their advocates, the vast majority of whom refused to speak on the record due to the sway the Wounded Warrior Project carries.
“They are such a big name within the veterans’ community. I don’t need to start a war in my backyard,” a double-amputee veteran who served in Iraq told The Daily Beast.
But granted anonymity, the vet gave voice to what is at the very least a perception problem for the WWP: “They’re more worried about putting their label on everything than getting down to brass tacks. It’s really frustrating.”
The same veteran spoke of waking up in the hospital after an IED hit his supply truck—WWP, he said, had given him only trivial merchandise: a backpack, a shaving kit and socks.
“Everything they do is a dog-and-pony show, and I haven’t talked to one of my fellow veterans that were injured… actually getting any help from the Wounded Warrior Project. I’m not just talking about financial assistance; I'm talking about help, period,” he said.
Some gripe in interviews with the Beast about how the charity has become more of a self- perpetuating fundraising machine than a service organization. WWP certainly is successful at fundraising: It had revenues of more than $300 million, according to its most recent audited report, up from approximately $200 million the year before.
“In the beginning, with Wounded Warrior, it started as a small organization and evolved into a beast,” said Sam, an active-duty Army soldier who works with Special Forces. It's “become so large and such a massive money-maker,” he says, that he worries the organization cares about nothing more than raising money and “keeping up an appearance” for the public with superficial displays like wounded warrior parking spots at the Walmart.
Sam said he’s not interested in becoming involved with the Wounded Warrior Project after he leaves active-duty service—he prefers small nonprofits that are “just trying to survive” with a smaller budget and narrower mission.
“They’re laser-focused on making money to help vets, but forgetting to help vets,” said one veterans’ advocate. “It’s becoming one of the best known charities in America—and they’re not spending their money very well.”
The organization also engages in branded partnerships for everything from ketchup to paper towels to playing cards—something that rubs other veterans’ groups the wrong way.
“It’s more about the Wounded Warrior Project and less about the wounded warrior,” said a second veterans’ advocate.
Here are the charity’s self-reported results: As of September, the Wounded Warrior Project said it was serving more than 56,000 wounded vets and nearly 8,000 family members.
To date, the WWP's benefits team has helped 6,600 veterans submit benefit claims, and their Warriors to Work program helped place 1,900 veterans in jobs. The organization offers peer mentoring, employment assistance services, physical health and wellness activities, and long- term support initiatives.
But of the more than 56,000 veterans the group counts as “alumni,” meaning that they have been registered with the organization, many don’t directly engage with WWP.
Less than two-thirds (62 percent) of alumni participated in at least one WWP activity or service in the past year, according to a survey of alumni the group shared with the Beast. But according to their internal database, 78.9 percent of alumni have been involved with “engagements and interactions” with WWP this year.
The Wounded Warrior Project has also gotten mixed results from charity watchdogs: Charity Watch gave Wounded Warrior a C+ in 2013, up from a D two years prior. Charity Navigator gave it three out of four stars.
WWP claims to currently spend 80 percent of its budget on programs for veterans. But their formulation includes some solicitations with educational material on it as money spent on programs.
A 2013 collaboration between the Tampa Bay Times and the Center for Investigative Reporting reported that the charity spent just 58 percent of donations directly on veterans’ programs. That year, the figure WWP self-reported was 73 percent.
In contrast, a veterans’ charity like Fisher House, which received four stars from Charity Navigator and an A+ from Charity Watch, spent close to 95 percent of its budget on its programs.
There is also a distinct bitterness, especially from smaller advocacy groups, about the level of executive compensation doled out to the group’s leadership: For example, CEO Steven Nardizzi makes an annual salary of $375,000, according to their most recent tax report.
WWP counters that its volunteer Board of Director studies similar organization to determine executive compensation, and that their CEO’s compensation is approximately one-tenth of 1 percent of its budget. Nardizzi himself has dismissed charity ratings as unhelpful in the past.
Ken Davis, a veteran who served in Iraq before being injured, is considered among the “alumni” of the Wounded Warrior Project—even though he said he no longer wants to be associated with it.
“I receive more marketing stuff from them, [and see more of that] than the money they’ve put into the community here in Arizona,” he told the Beast. “It’s just about numbers and money to them. Never once did I get the feeling that it’s about veterans.”
He could have used a ride to a VA facility for health care, he said. But rather than receive practical assistance from the WWP, he got a branded fleece beanie.
“They’re marketing, they’re spending money—but on what?” Davis asked.
Outside defenders of the Wounded Warrior Project, in interviews with the Beast, suggested that critics were merely jealous of the charity’s success, and that the disapproving criticisms were merely a function of fear that WWP was eating up their donor dollars.
“There’s a certain level of jealousy, that [WWP] have such cachet, and on a daily basis people will associate [other prominent veterans’ groups] as Wounded Warrior. That rubs people the wrong way,” said one such defender in the nonprofit sphere.
As for the administrative costs of the charity, the nonprofit worker continued, “There is a fundamental misunderstanding in the public sphere about what it really costs to run an effective nonprofit.”
For its part, the Wounded Warrior Project dismisses much of the criticism.
The branding of products will “help to create awareness of the challenges and needs of this generation of veteran... help fund the 20 free programs and services we provide to injured veterans, their families and caregivers, and inform veterans of the programs and services we provide so that they can register as Alumni to take part in them,” their spokeswoman said.
As for the comfort packages and merchandise, Roberts notes that it reflects the group’s origins: WWP started with just six friends packing backpacks to provide items to wounded services warriors at Walter Reed Medical Center. And the group also says employees are empowered to provide direct assistance to veterans such as rent, utilities, food, and emergency repairs.
The Wounded Warrior Project is certainly not a scam, nor an ill-meaning charity. Even its fiercest detractors admit that WWP has the right motives, even if they believe WWP can be a lot more effective.
But as the Wounded Warrior Project has grown to become one of the nation’s most prominent veterans’ groups, it still has room for improvement.
Can it claim to serve 56,000 vets when at least one-third haven’t engaged with the group in the past year? Or claim to be maximally effective if it spends more of its budget on administrative costs than the top-ranked charities in the field do?
At the very least, the Wounded Warrior Project has a perception problem among a broad group of fellow veterans advocates and vets themselves.
“You have an organization that is spending God knows how many millions of dollars saying that they’re helping people, but they’re not,” said Davis, an Iraq veteran.
Chapter IX Commo Sergeant's comment: A little trip to the Combined Federal Campaign website, gave us the information on just how much of the donations that Wounded Warrior Project took in, went for Administrative costs and advertising - that was 16.7%. By comparison, the Special Operations Wounded Warrior spent 5.5% on admin and advertising; Task Force Dagger Foundation spent 5.4% on same and the Green Beret Foundation spent 4%.
Over the past decade, the Wounded Warrior Project has emerged to become one of the celebrated charities in the country—but with its prominence comes deeper scrutiny and criticism.
It’s a broad but closely held sentiment within the veterans’ advocacy community: grumbling and critiques about the fundraising behemoth WWP has become, and whether it has been as effective as it could be.
In interviews, critical veterans’ advocates and veterans charged that the Wounded Warrior Project cares more about its image than it does about helping veterans; that it makes public splashes by taking vets on dramatic skydiving trips but doesn’t do enough to help the long-term wellbeing of those injured in combat.
These criticisms come from a broad cross-section of veterans and their advocates, the vast majority of whom refused to speak on the record due to the sway the Wounded Warrior Project carries.
“They are such a big name within the veterans’ community. I don’t need to start a war in my backyard,” a double-amputee veteran who served in Iraq told The Daily Beast.
But granted anonymity, the vet gave voice to what is at the very least a perception problem for the WWP: “They’re more worried about putting their label on everything than getting down to brass tacks. It’s really frustrating.”
The same veteran spoke of waking up in the hospital after an IED hit his supply truck—WWP, he said, had given him only trivial merchandise: a backpack, a shaving kit and socks.
“Everything they do is a dog-and-pony show, and I haven’t talked to one of my fellow veterans that were injured… actually getting any help from the Wounded Warrior Project. I’m not just talking about financial assistance; I'm talking about help, period,” he said.
Some gripe in interviews with the Beast about how the charity has become more of a self- perpetuating fundraising machine than a service organization. WWP certainly is successful at fundraising: It had revenues of more than $300 million, according to its most recent audited report, up from approximately $200 million the year before.
“In the beginning, with Wounded Warrior, it started as a small organization and evolved into a beast,” said Sam, an active-duty Army soldier who works with Special Forces. It's “become so large and such a massive money-maker,” he says, that he worries the organization cares about nothing more than raising money and “keeping up an appearance” for the public with superficial displays like wounded warrior parking spots at the Walmart.
Sam said he’s not interested in becoming involved with the Wounded Warrior Project after he leaves active-duty service—he prefers small nonprofits that are “just trying to survive” with a smaller budget and narrower mission.
“They’re laser-focused on making money to help vets, but forgetting to help vets,” said one veterans’ advocate. “It’s becoming one of the best known charities in America—and they’re not spending their money very well.”
The organization also engages in branded partnerships for everything from ketchup to paper towels to playing cards—something that rubs other veterans’ groups the wrong way.
“It’s more about the Wounded Warrior Project and less about the wounded warrior,” said a second veterans’ advocate.
Here are the charity’s self-reported results: As of September, the Wounded Warrior Project said it was serving more than 56,000 wounded vets and nearly 8,000 family members.
To date, the WWP's benefits team has helped 6,600 veterans submit benefit claims, and their Warriors to Work program helped place 1,900 veterans in jobs. The organization offers peer mentoring, employment assistance services, physical health and wellness activities, and long- term support initiatives.
But of the more than 56,000 veterans the group counts as “alumni,” meaning that they have been registered with the organization, many don’t directly engage with WWP.
Less than two-thirds (62 percent) of alumni participated in at least one WWP activity or service in the past year, according to a survey of alumni the group shared with the Beast. But according to their internal database, 78.9 percent of alumni have been involved with “engagements and interactions” with WWP this year.
The Wounded Warrior Project has also gotten mixed results from charity watchdogs: Charity Watch gave Wounded Warrior a C+ in 2013, up from a D two years prior. Charity Navigator gave it three out of four stars.
WWP claims to currently spend 80 percent of its budget on programs for veterans. But their formulation includes some solicitations with educational material on it as money spent on programs.
A 2013 collaboration between the Tampa Bay Times and the Center for Investigative Reporting reported that the charity spent just 58 percent of donations directly on veterans’ programs. That year, the figure WWP self-reported was 73 percent.
In contrast, a veterans’ charity like Fisher House, which received four stars from Charity Navigator and an A+ from Charity Watch, spent close to 95 percent of its budget on its programs.
There is also a distinct bitterness, especially from smaller advocacy groups, about the level of executive compensation doled out to the group’s leadership: For example, CEO Steven Nardizzi makes an annual salary of $375,000, according to their most recent tax report.
WWP counters that its volunteer Board of Director studies similar organization to determine executive compensation, and that their CEO’s compensation is approximately one-tenth of 1 percent of its budget. Nardizzi himself has dismissed charity ratings as unhelpful in the past.
Ken Davis, a veteran who served in Iraq before being injured, is considered among the “alumni” of the Wounded Warrior Project—even though he said he no longer wants to be associated with it.
“I receive more marketing stuff from them, [and see more of that] than the money they’ve put into the community here in Arizona,” he told the Beast. “It’s just about numbers and money to them. Never once did I get the feeling that it’s about veterans.”
He could have used a ride to a VA facility for health care, he said. But rather than receive practical assistance from the WWP, he got a branded fleece beanie.
“They’re marketing, they’re spending money—but on what?” Davis asked.
Outside defenders of the Wounded Warrior Project, in interviews with the Beast, suggested that critics were merely jealous of the charity’s success, and that the disapproving criticisms were merely a function of fear that WWP was eating up their donor dollars.
“There’s a certain level of jealousy, that [WWP] have such cachet, and on a daily basis people will associate [other prominent veterans’ groups] as Wounded Warrior. That rubs people the wrong way,” said one such defender in the nonprofit sphere.
As for the administrative costs of the charity, the nonprofit worker continued, “There is a fundamental misunderstanding in the public sphere about what it really costs to run an effective nonprofit.”
For its part, the Wounded Warrior Project dismisses much of the criticism.
The branding of products will “help to create awareness of the challenges and needs of this generation of veteran... help fund the 20 free programs and services we provide to injured veterans, their families and caregivers, and inform veterans of the programs and services we provide so that they can register as Alumni to take part in them,” their spokeswoman said.
As for the comfort packages and merchandise, Roberts notes that it reflects the group’s origins: WWP started with just six friends packing backpacks to provide items to wounded services warriors at Walter Reed Medical Center. And the group also says employees are empowered to provide direct assistance to veterans such as rent, utilities, food, and emergency repairs.
The Wounded Warrior Project is certainly not a scam, nor an ill-meaning charity. Even its fiercest detractors admit that WWP has the right motives, even if they believe WWP can be a lot more effective.
But as the Wounded Warrior Project has grown to become one of the nation’s most prominent veterans’ groups, it still has room for improvement.
Can it claim to serve 56,000 vets when at least one-third haven’t engaged with the group in the past year? Or claim to be maximally effective if it spends more of its budget on administrative costs than the top-ranked charities in the field do?
At the very least, the Wounded Warrior Project has a perception problem among a broad group of fellow veterans advocates and vets themselves.
“You have an organization that is spending God knows how many millions of dollars saying that they’re helping people, but they’re not,” said Davis, an Iraq veteran.
Chapter IX Commo Sergeant's comment: A little trip to the Combined Federal Campaign website, gave us the information on just how much of the donations that Wounded Warrior Project took in, went for Administrative costs and advertising - that was 16.7%. By comparison, the Special Operations Wounded Warrior spent 5.5% on admin and advertising; Task Force Dagger Foundation spent 5.4% on same and the Green Beret Foundation spent 4%.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Romy Camargo: An Everyday Hero in the Special Forces Community
This story is from the Green Beret Foundation provides immediate and long term support to our wounded, their families, and to the families of our fallen. As the foundation states "The Army's Green Berets, America's Quiet Professionals, are a brotherhood of elite warriors who have been waging silent wars for decades. They carried the mantle of freedom into Afghanistan on September 12, 2001 and continue to fight there and in Iraq still today. The regiment has seen a lot of battle and the men and their families need our support."
The Green Beret Foundation highlights who they call "Everyday Heroes in the SF Community" and the following story underscores the never give up, always contribute mindset of the Special Forces professional.
CWO3 Romulo "Romy" Camargo always knew that he wanted to be in the military. He joined the US Army in 1995 and became a Green Beret special forces operator. While serving in Afghanistan, 25-30 enemy forces attacked him and his team with rocket propelled grenades and AK-47s. Camargo was hit. He was paralyzed but he and his family have persevered. Romy and his wife Gaby are opening the Stay in Step Recovery Center (www.stayinstep.org) in Tampa to support other people with spinal cord injuries in their rehabilitation.
This video is part of the Green Beret Foundation's "Everyday Heroes in the Special Forces Community" video series about Green Berets and their family members. The videos share the story of these heroes' military service and their work in their communities as they come home from war.
Learn more about the Green Beret Foundation:
The Green Beret Foundation highlights who they call "Everyday Heroes in the SF Community" and the following story underscores the never give up, always contribute mindset of the Special Forces professional.
CWO3 Romulo "Romy" Camargo always knew that he wanted to be in the military. He joined the US Army in 1995 and became a Green Beret special forces operator. While serving in Afghanistan, 25-30 enemy forces attacked him and his team with rocket propelled grenades and AK-47s. Camargo was hit. He was paralyzed but he and his family have persevered. Romy and his wife Gaby are opening the Stay in Step Recovery Center (www.stayinstep.org) in Tampa to support other people with spinal cord injuries in their rehabilitation.
This video is part of the Green Beret Foundation's "Everyday Heroes in the Special Forces Community" video series about Green Berets and their family members. The videos share the story of these heroes' military service and their work in their communities as they come home from war.
Learn more about the Green Beret Foundation:
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Green Beret Foundation's "Everyday Heroes"
This video is part of the Green Beret Foundation's "Everyday Heroes in the Special Forces Community" video series about Green Berets and their family members. The videos share the story of these heroes' military service and their work in their communities as they come home from war.
Learn more about the Green Beret Foundation: http://www.greenberetfoundation.org
Learn more about the Green Beret Foundation: http://www.greenberetfoundation.org
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Green Beret Foundation
The Green Beret Foundation provides unconventional resources to facilitate the special needs of our wounded, ill and injured and imparts unique support to the Special Forces community in order to strengthen readiness and uphold Green Beret traditions and values.
Green Beret Foundation
A special thanks to Troy E. Scoughton at PRC Productions for making this video possible, and Alex Quade for going above and beyond to support our Green Berets.
Green Beret Foundation
A special thanks to Troy E. Scoughton at PRC Productions for making this video possible, and Alex Quade for going above and beyond to support our Green Berets.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Green Beret Foundation
About GBF
The Green Beret Foundation is currently in its start up-phase. We have been diligently working to plan, organize, raise capital and spread awareness of the GBF. In the past, there have been many shortcomings in the care system for our wounded, ill, injured and the families greatly affected within the Special Forces community. We intend to help ease the burdens due to these gaps and hope to build the awareness necessary on some of the most common issues in order to bring about solutions within the care system.
GBF Mission
The Green Beret Foundation provides unconventional resources to facilitate the special needs of our wounded, and provide unique support to the Special Forces community in order to strengthen readiness and uphold Green Beret traditions and values.
Some of the more common issues GBF can assist with:
Health and Welfare
Advanced rehabilitation and operational health & performance programs
Equipment related to rehabilitation and operational health & performance
Treatments and procedures not covered by the DOD, the Veterans Affairs, or TRICARE
In-Vitro fertilization for those whose reproductive capacity has been affected by their wounds, injury or illness
Career & educational opportunities and Life reintegration assistance
Travel
Transportation and lodging for medical treatments not covered by TRICARE
Transportation and lodging for Veterans seeking medical assistance through VA
Rare occasions when travel for medical purposes for our wounded on active duty is not covered by the government
Memorial
Costs incurred by family members for Gold Star events and certain memorials
Family assistance
Resources to aid and assist the spouses and children of the Special Forces community who have been affected by the loss of their loved one Certain financial hardships approved by our Board of Directors
http://www.greenberetfoundation.org/
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