The Buffalo News had a great story “Powers’ Iraq outreach ends up as more hype than help” on Jon Powers’ War Kids Relief. According to the Buffalo News:
Now, on the campaign trail, Powers continually touts stories in Newsweek, the New York Times, The Buffalo News and NBC News about his plan to raise as much as $7 million for Iraqi orphanages and youth centers.
But while Powers’ Web site highlights War Kids Relief as “quickly recognized for its path breaking work,” critics say it accomplished little beyond shipping a few soccer balls and backpacks to Iraq –and paying Powers about $77,000 worth of salary over 18 months.
They also say that while the good intentions even of congressional candidates are entitled to fail, Powers never mentions that War Kids Relief fell far short of accomplishing its goal.
(snip)
Powers, 30, acknowledges that War Kids Relief never accomplished many of its goals, mainly because Congress declined to fund the program. He also said he is not required until Aug. 15 to file Form 990 to the Internal Revenue Service to account for receipts and expenditures. He acknowledged that the organization raised between $150,000 and $250,000 over the course of its existence, with a substantial percentage dedicated to his salary.
(snip)
Under King’s leadership, the program began to receive some attention around his hometown of Worcester, Mass. The class of Cynthia Bazinet, a high school government teacher in Auburn, Mass., adopted it as part of a senior peace studies course and raised $262.
But when it came time to donate the money in December of last year, War Kids Relief had terminated it Web site. She contacted King, who said they ought to find another charity to help.
Bazinet said that she tried confronting Powers about the situation in various conversations on political blog sites but that he always avoided giving a direct answer. He offered to discuss the matter privately, she said, but never online. “If you go out and [raise money], you had better be prepared to answer questions,” she added. “I don’t care if he is a vet.”
King said he did his best to raise funds privately but found limited success. He did continue to push the program in Congress and sent a shipment of soccer balls and backpacks to Iraq.
“I’m just not a very good fundraiser, I guess,” he said. “And without money, you can’t accomplish much.”
Let’s see, the only leads they had was government funding from Ted Kennedy and John Kerry. All they sent was a shipment of soccer balls and backpacks. And he pays himself $77,000 in salary — it’s starting to look like our hunch back in April — that War Kids Relief was little more than a resume builder for a congressional wannabe was almost right on. We should have realized that it was also the source of a nice paycheck for Jon Jon. Kind of like when he tried to get his campaign to pay his rent — a violation of FCC guidelines.
If Jack Davis is successful getting this story out, it should be lights out Sweet Prince. Jon Jon is in big trouble. I really thought those Buffalo Bills schedules were going to do the trick!
Tags: Articles, Cincinnatus, Jack Davis, Jon Powers, Local Congressional Races by Cincinnatus
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