ABC Action News in Tampa Bay, Florida investigates their local charity – Veterans in Need Foundation, Inc. in Pompano Beach and they find convicted violent offenders, sex offenders and various criminals set up aggressively collecting donations. According to Charity Navigator, they raised $448,969 in 2014, the last time they filed an IRS Form 990 as a 501(c)(3) organization.
Visitors to Florida’s rest stops and welcome centers give hundreds-of-thousands of dollars a year to the Veterans in Need Foundation, a non-profit charity based in Pompano Beach, FL.
Not all of the people soliciting spent time in the military.
Koleff admitted he’s not a veteran, but refers to himself as a 12 year volunteer for Veterans in Need.
“I just come out here and raise money,” said David Tussie, whose identification card indicates he is a non-veteran solicitor and a supervisor.
Donald Vincent, who we found nodding off in his chair outside a rest area along I-75, wouldn’t give us his full name, but we learned who he was from the permit issued.
Vincent is a registered sex offender from Broward County, where the charity is based.
Nick Koleff, also from Broward County, served time for attempted sexual battery, false imprisonment and multiple DUIs. .
“They do a background check on us to make sure we’re legit,” Koleff told us.
A legit what?
The organization doesn’t have a physical address, only a PO Box at a UPS Store. The last time they had an actual office, county health officials found men living in those offices with no bathing facilities.
Despite these shady elements, the state of Florida issues them a permit to solicit every year;
So, if you’re traveling through Florida this season, beware of these cats.
Comments
32 responses to “Veterans in Need; shady charity”
Maybe it should be “Veterans Needed” [to kick some adz.]
Wonder who is getting the kick-back from these pervs?
GAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWDAMMIT!!!! Just when I thought my faith in humanity couldn’t get more jaded… Don’t let ME get near any of then if I road trip to FL, I’ll just kick their table over and walk on.
What could possibly go wrong with any of this.
Fuck You Florida, just FUCK YOU.
They haven’t filed in 3 years and isn’t that grounds for arrest?
And yet it’s Florida again..; (
Although I live there, yes, I agree with you ChipNasa.
If Florida is the asshole of the east coast, does that make the panhandle portion the taint? Retired here 5 years ago and it’s swarming with all kinds of chimo/ drug/ valor crabs.
Florida….the California of the east coast.
Diseased penis.
Is there any place besides LV246 that is free of scammers?
I vote we send these critter incubators to LV246 where they will at least have a purpose.
It’s not just Florida we have had them here in Arizona also
Namely the Tucson, Az area they love to set up at Safeways
Frys kicked them off the property’s
Ajo and Alvernon/Golf Links was another spot.
Grant and Silverbell the other is Broadway just east of Downtown
The Fry’s on Ina and Thornydale had them trespassed off the property
After a real Vet was chasing one of the turds around with a baseball bat
The fat dude in the boonie hat. I ran his ass off from WalMart 2 years ago Memorial Day
I knew those fucks were fake! I’ve seen them at rest stops on I-75 in Florida before and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up
Here is the report on these scumbags right from the Florida website;
Veterans In Need Foundation, Inc, Pompano Beach, FL Print
Also Soliciting as
Veterans In Need Foundation, Inc.
Registration Number :CH31375 Expiration Date :12/14/2017
Revenue Source : 08 – IRS 990 w/ Sch.A and Audit (12/31/2015)
Total Revenue : $322,229.00 Program Services Expenses : $256,265.00 68%
Total Expenses : $374,282.00 Administrative Expenses : $118,017.00 32%
Surplus/Deficit : -$52,053.00 Fundraising Expenses : $.00 0%
Statement Of Purpose HELPING VETERANS RETURN TO ACTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY
It sure doesn’t look like they are giving much to the veterans? I say if you see any of these assholes at the rest stops, that you give them a swift kick in the nuts!
Scammers gotta scam…
Of course, CEO/drifter Joe Haddy is lining up his own pockets with that money. News crew should have went to his house to see what he is driving.
I guarantee not 1 dollar has ever gone to anything having to do with veterans. It has lined the pockets of the non veteran piece of shit founder of this scam. I hope he rots in hell.
This is why I live in the woods.
What is it with Florida and phonies/scammers?
I get Florida is a paradise…but apparently its haven for pedophiles, phonies and rapist.
These turd are also here in Arizona to
“Tucson’s the weird capital of the world… WEIRD.”
Jodie Foster’s Audrey in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore
And it’s only gotten worse since I was a kid
My wife says Portland, Ore wins the Weird contest
With Tucson highest property taxes in Arizona not far behind
????
I liked the Kennedy School and Voodoo Donuts, didn’t care much for the panhandling kids in their late teens-early 20s infesting downtown Portland.
As far as Tucson goes, it’s nice to live outside of the city limits but Pima County has it’s shitbaggery too.
It kind of makes me want to sit in front of a grocery store in a beach chair all day collecting money for BLM?
I can start a charity for that and keep all the money? Stealing money from a sucky cause sure beats working for a living.
Bureau of Land Management? 😉
BAGS of LOOT for ME
Didn’t we have something on these asshats several years ago? I seem to remember that charity name working the store fronts around here, Alpharetta and Holly Springs.
My section of Florida has mixed results. They control interstate access ramps, major intersections, etc. I’ve seen brawls over who gets what spot. The grocery stores? I haven’t seen them at Winn Dixie or Publix, which is the vast majority of grocery. I travel I-10 and have never seen them at rest stops.
Pervs, hug? ESAD, scumbags.
This Organization is not shady, it is a legit 501c3 non profit organization. My husband is a Vet & we contacted SEVERAL different Veteran Organizations & was unable to get any responses from any of them. I then contacted Veterans In Need Foundation and they responded within a week. They helped us out tremendously with food vouchers,,, etc,,, I HIGHLY recommend this organization.