A Tale of a Greedy Charity.

1. biltmore
   May 28th, 2007 at 2:57 pm

   Wow, that's freaking rediculous. What a bunch of crooked bastards.

2. Yak Boy
   May 28th, 2007 at 3:04 pm

   Here's the thing:

   The Salvation Army is NOT a charity, it is a CHURCH.

   There is no separation between the Salvation Army religious sect & the charitable organisation.

   They operate in much the same way as the Mormons or the Jehovah's Witnesses - they give charity to the needy but use it as a cover to hock their religious beliefs.

   If the story had been about the Mormons or the JW's squeezing money from another charity, no-one would have been surprised. But, for some unknown reason, the Salvation Army seems to have built up a veneer of respectability.

   Hopefully people might now take notice and start to see the Salvo's for what they really are.

3. biltmore
   May 28th, 2007 at 3:35 pm

   Oh that makes me hate them even more now. Thanks Yak Boy! I knew that something evil was going on with TSA.

4. Another Jake
   May 28th, 2007 at 4:02 pm

   Psh. Every organization, charitable or otherwise makes some bad judgment calls. And honestly, I'd rather if Greenpeace didn't get the money. Those folks are the Corleones of the green movement.

5. Moon
   May 28th, 2007 at 6:28 pm

   Well, maybe when you get millions to donate to charity, you can ignore Greenpeace. But that obviously wasn't the intention of the DiStefanos.

6. Robert Aronson
   May 28th, 2007 at 6:36 pm

   The Salvation Army may have made a bad call, but Greenpeace is ridiculous. I'm all for preserving the environment, but not at the expense of aiding Greenpeace. They're just crazy. From what I hear, most or all of the founders of that movement/organization resigned because it became nothing more than a radical, political machine filled with as many crackpot zealots as any cult.

   Also, people need to remember that there's far more to every story than what one reads in the newspaper. It's best not to jump to quick judgements. I tend to not trust any news story that seems totally one-sided, whether or not I like which side won.

7. Jesus
   May 28th, 2007 at 8:04 pm

   The salvation army is a cult.

   In my city they make some people listen to their sermons before giving handouts (that were donated).

8. a fundraiser
   May 28th, 2007 at 10:40 pm

   Thanks for the link! I'm glad you are covering this story.

9. Eric
   May 28th, 2007 at 11:47 pm

   I've had a bad taste for the Salvation Army since a friend of mine went to help with hurricane relief (not Katrina). The Salvation Army provided them with coffee...at a charge. How cheap.

10. Alex
    May 29th, 2007 at 12:05 am

    Bad call? Bad call is when you go for greasy Chinese when you know you shouldn't. Or maybe hitting the golf ball with the wrong club.

    Filing a lawsuit to stiff another entity over money from the kindness of strangers is so much more than just a bad judgment call.

11. Another Jake
    May 29th, 2007 at 1:02 am

    Let's just say my definition of "bad call" is a bit broader than yours, anyway I didn't say it was a "minor" bad judgment call. I'm just saying that some corporate loony made a bad decision that soiled the spirit of the organization. The salvation army is non-profit and somebody probably got too caught up in keeping the budget tight. or maybe they got greedy, but that doesn't explain it too well since they don't really pocket the money. I mean, there aren't shareholders.

    Anyone picturing Mr. Burns writhing his hands and going all "Smithers! Go take those dead people's money this instant! ...Excellent." is probably less right than someone picturing an overstressed budget-managing executive going all "How am I gonna keep this place running?! I'm gonna get canned!"

    It doesn't matter anyway really since they will lose the lawsuit, greenpeace will get their cut, as they should, and somebody at salvation army will hopefully get the axe.

12. Lasse
    May 29th, 2007 at 1:13 am

    Corleones of the green movement? What do you think all the industrialist lobby organizations are doing? At least one mobster works for the right cause.

13. Dave
    May 29th, 2007 at 8:10 am

    Without knowing any of the details, my first guess is that the SA folks saw the redirection of the money to the Greenpeace Fund as a breach of the specifics of the Di Stefano's will. Wills designating money going to organizations are usually very specific in where the money goes; it didn't likely say just "Greenpeace", but referred to a specific legal entity that existed at the time the will was drawn up. Apparently nobody saw a need to amend the will when Greenpeace dissolved.

    The Salvation Army folks were in the right, following the letter of the Di Stefano's will, as the trustees of the estate had no business futzing with the details of who got what after the death of the Di Stephanos. The trustees, for whatever reason, chose to pursue the spirit of the will, and although I can't say that I would've done the same, I can see their intentions. That said, I can't fault SA for their actions; they were only trying to get the specifics of the will carried out, which to them was divvying up the money between the organizations specified in the will. Greenpeace Fund was not in the list.

    Those of you who do fault them would probably fault them regardless of the circumstances, as you likely would with any Christian organization. Guess bigotry knows no bounds.

14. Eric
    May 29th, 2007 at 8:48 am

    nuke greenpeace

15. Gerry
    May 29th, 2007 at 8:55 am

    While I would never give to Greenpeace,
    now I'll also know NOT to give to
    the Salvation Army. No more Christmas buckets.

16. phoenix
    May 29th, 2007 at 11:31 am

    Typical Salvation Army.

17. Jake
    May 29th, 2007 at 12:28 pm

    My name's David. *fart noise*

18. a fundraiser
    May 29th, 2007 at 2:37 pm

    I thought you'd be interested to know that the matter has since been settled through mediation. I posted a follow-up piece on the settlement:

    http://donttellthedonor.blogspot.com/2007/05/greenpeace-survives-shake down-from.html

19. c-dub
    May 30th, 2007 at 6:10 pm

    Robert Aronson says that Greenpeace is full of crackpots "from what [he] hears" -- but then chastises people for believing everything they hear. How interesting.

    Another Jake: this clearly isn't an example of one "budget-managing executive" making a "bad call." A lawsuits of this magnitude wouldn't get filed and litigated without the support of church leadership.

    And Dave, I really doubt that the Salvation Army was really "only trying to get the specifics of the will carried out," as if the church were only looking out for the interest of the deceased. They were trying to get more money; the interest of the deceased was clearly contrary to theirs.

20. Alex
    May 30th, 2007 at 6:28 pm

    The ending of the story is quite telling: the lawsuit is privately settled when Salvation Army goes away with the extra $6 million it would've gotten by cutting out Greenpeace.

    Hm, somehow I think that contradicted the explanation of "carrying out the letter of the will."

21. davemooregan
    October 12th, 2008 at 12:03 pm

    Knowing that, we need to think about how we are going to use the tools we’ve got to make the most out of them. How can we use this site to make amazing things happen, You can make real connections with real people on here and see how that same amount of money impacts their lives. Yeah!!! send those greed bastards to us and we’ll exploit them! http://www.greedypeople.com

22. A Christian
    November 3rd, 2008 at 10:26 am

    I am currently employed by The Salvation Army in the NE division. Sadly, after working for over a year I have witnessed some of the worst of what the army does not want YOU to know. They are a cult and if you are not a family member and just a regular employee you stand alone and will be eliminated after they have used you up and spit you out. Make no mistake, they are as corrupt as the day is long. The individuals ("Majors"-which is another joke) who run these corps in each county of each state are personally taken care of very well. A $250,000.00 house, two new foriegn cars, new expensive furniture, all their food and clothing and utilities paid for also, all insurance and gas. It is a joke. All those poor bastards putting money in these kettles thinking they are doing the right thing are privately being mocked by an institution that was once on the proper track and was respectable, it is now as corrupt as anything I have ever read about or witnessed. Be careful too, if they know you are exposing their secrets they will come after you with a vengence. This organization does not share any information and is not as any other 501c3 is required to do and is not viewable on Guidestar, they only list the top commissioner's salary in Washington, DC and what is listed is such a lie. His base salary may appear to be low, but what is unknown is that money is just for his own enjoyment, every and I repeat every expense possible is taken care of by YOU, the donor, by providing this corrupt organization with carte blanche to lie cheat and steal from the American public. This organization needs auditied and will be soon, get ready boys, because your time is a comin' to be exposed for all the treachery and lies.

23. Quakemom777
    November 27th, 2008 at 11:01 pm

    To A Christian, I too am employed by TSA for several years now and am experiencing just what you described because I am not a "soldier", everything you stated is true, and especially about how the officers are provided for, no tax accountability and the books are always a year'n'half/two years behind so you can never really know. Thanks for speaking up, glad I found this page. If I didn't need my job, I wouldn't hang around, has just about finished me off for any kind of church, still love the Lord though!

24. Not a Fan of the Sally Ann
    December 7th, 2008 at 10:34 am

    Bang on, the above comments from "insiders" working for the SA. I, too, worked for them on a four-month contract last year. As a Christian, I applied for the job, because I'd assumed they were a Christian organization. They're not -- they're a money-making, brainwashing cult, plain and simple. I saw how they treated those who came to them for help, and I was appalled. I ended up quitting before the end of my contract, I just couldn't deal with the duplicity and hypocrisy anymore. As with most other charities, the "front-line workers" are for the most part enthusiastic, heart-felt volunteers who put on a good show for the public, while those in positions of power behind the scenes are cold, callous money-grubbers. The brainwashing was most evident higher up the ranks. They put the SA in the position of God.

25. The Colonel
    January 11th, 2009 at 8:24 pm

    I have been with The Salvation Army for many, many years. We have it downpat! We preach with tears in our eyes and state the horrible atrocities of the lonely widows and while your'e at it, how about writin me a check for $10,000. No one will challenge the army, no one, we can do what we want, when we want it and laugh all the way to the bank. What suckers we have made out of the American public, but thanks for the ride, it's been great, my retirement package was sweet too.

26. Sally Ann/Dangerous Dan
    January 23rd, 2009 at 11:59 am

    Salvation Army should be good stewards of money received by the public's good hearts.

    Our firm has been priviledged to obtain very damaging information about the army. Do not challenge the army for your life may be in danger. The army will come after you and try to destroy you, your family, your career and home. Be careful.

27. Flu-Bird
    February 20th, 2009 at 12:01 pm

    He realy should have left %100 for the SALVATION ARMY and 0% for GREENPEACE

28. Birdzilla
    March 11th, 2009 at 3:46 pm

    SALVATION ARMY YES GRENPEACE NO

29. My tooth hurts...
    March 17th, 2009 at 9:59 am

    Hi Joe! Thanks for your input.

30. Anonymous2
    May 5th, 2009 at 6:24 pm

    Thanks Sally Ann/Dangerous Dan for the warning! I work for the Salvation Army and echo what many have said here. They are a cult. I pray I will be able to get out, and get out soon! Do not give money to the Salvation Army. Give it to your local church instead.

31. S.A.
    May 10th, 2009 at 6:36 pm

    You can get out Anonymous2. It's not easy, but have courage and go for it. You may also find counselling helpful, and remember to talk about it with your non-cult friends and family. They love you and they want to help - it will be very hard for them to see you go through this.

    A few years ago my partner got out after about a year in the cult. He was subjected to mind control techniques, expected to give the Sallies all his money, and forced to break off all contact with his old friends and family. They even took away his cellphone to try to stop him contacting his friends and family! It was like he just vanished. For months I didn't know where he was or even if he was alive. They had told him he could never see me or talk to me again; if he had a girlfriend she had to be from the Sallies. He had a lot of mental health issues related to the mind control experience and this is why I suggest counselling may be able to help you.

    The good news is that now our lives are back to normal and we have moved on. Be brave and God bless!

32. wannastang62
    June 22nd, 2009 at 11:36 pm

    I have been working at the Salvation Army for almost two yrs. Everything on here is so true. I have worked all my life, had many good jobs and some not so good, but I have never had such crooked, evil bosses. On my 2nd day here my boss was sreaming at one of the employees training me on the floor infront of customers. We have had many great employees quit because of all the harrassment going on at Our Super Salvation Store. Many employees have made complaints about it to our bigger bosses at the main store and nothing has happened. Because they have free houses, cars and their bills are all paid for. Our manager and assistant manager were also caught on camera by a employee that quit, stealing bags and bags of stuff out the back door of our store and our so called supervisers from our main office covered up for them. The truck drivers that we have don't want to come to our store anymore because they get harrassed from our bosses. We are losing customers by the day because our bosses are so hateful to them. I'm not going to be there much longer, can't handle the negative bosses that I have. I believe that when it first started it was great....the ARC, but somehow over the years the majors, captains, ministers, and all the other bosses got so mean and crooked. Yes, it is a cult. One I don't want to have anything to do with anymore.

33. Chris24601
    July 12th, 2009 at 1:28 pm

    This has got to be the worst charity in the United States, and I recommend that no one ever give a dime to them or donate any goods or services to their stores or any of their service centers. In my 3 years of experience with the Salvation Army, I have found that just about every officer and most of the rank and file are corrupt and dishonest. In Indianapolis, just about every set of officers that's run the Adult Rehabilitation Center has been caught embezzling funds and outright stealing large amounts of donated goods including cars, boats, furniture, jewlery and clothing among other things. This "Rehabilitation Center" takes people looking for help and puts them to work in their thrift store operation for no pay, except the roof over their head, which leaks (they require clients to pay for their meals with food stamps, and they must pay for every meal whether they eat it or not.....FOOD STAMP FRAUD). Every employee takes what he or she wants, while a "beneficiary" (the laughable term they give to their clients) will be kicked out for taking a pair of shoes. The "resident manager" is a convicted murderer, and most of the staff are felons of one stripe or another. I know of two honest employees who have been laid off and the ARC refuses to pay their unemployment claims, stating that they are a charity and don't have to pay. And this is just the ARC. The Corps in Fountain Square has a set of officers that behave much the same way, keeping whatever they like (the chapel is full of large amounts of musical equipment that the Captain claims is his personal property, and goes largely unused). Just a little further south in Johnson County, the youth pastor has been arrested for and admitted to molesting three 13 year old parishioners, one of whom is now pregnant with his child. This man has a long history of this behavior as he has worked at other Corps in the US, since his parents are Corps officers and he travels and lives with them from post to post. AWFUL!!!!!!!!!

34. Clifford Morts
    August 28th, 2009 at 1:33 pm

    I, too, have had extensive dealings with The Salvation Army over the years...I was the intake director for one their ARCs in Chicago, IL, for several years. I was considered "senior staff." It is my considererd opinion The Salvation Army is far and wide the most corrupt organization I have ever encountered. They are greedy, unscrupulous and downright cruel. They take the denizons of society: the addicted, the homeless, the socially inept, the down-on-their-luck and they give them a roof over their head and some food (bad and not enough) and put them to work in their sweatshops for free...this is hard, backbreaking work, forty hours a week. At the end of six months there is no "after care" program...the "beneficiary" (the army's euphemism - they LOVE their euphemisms - you can't even "die" while at The Salvation Army, you're "promoted to glory.") is simply kicked back to the curb. Chris24601 has it exactly right. The ARC program is essentially indentured survitude, nothing more, nothing less. In addition, the officers, all theives to the last one, as far as I could see, live like kings, new car every year, new houses, children go to college for free, no taxes (they are, after all, "ministers"), the Army takes care of everthing...This is a dangerous cult, pure and simple, and somehow, God knows how, they've managed to hookwink America into thinking they are a "charity" that helps people.

35. rick2009
    September 18th, 2009 at 11:04 pm

    I grew up in The Salvation Army and had officer parents. What everyone has said is absolutely true. The organization has sold its soul to the devil in exchange for money, recognition, power. I went to their international youth conference in capetown, south africa 10 years ago and was floored when I saw the head of the organization, the General(he's like the Pope)and his wife, being chaffeured in a new, black, Mercedes Benz! I have since left the organization which I firmly believe is a cult. Is there anything that can be done to expose their mishandling of the public funds?

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