MYRTLE BEACH (WBTW) – Fred Kane appeared as one of many upset donors to Wounded Warrior Project last week on a CBS Evening News report to say he and the others demanded answers about reported misspending of millions of dollars he and so many others had worked so hard to donate.
More than four years ago, News13 first reported about Kane’s efforts to collect donated golf clubs and bags that he would donate for veterans to use. By that time, he’s already started his Tee Off Fore A Cause golf tournaments to raise money that was donated directly to Wounded Warrior.
“We have a lot to be thankful for,” said Kane in 2013. He is not a veteran, but both of his sons have served in recent Middle Eastern conflicts.
“They came home and they’re fine. But there are so many that are in need.”
Later in 2013, Wounded Warrior Project recognized Kane as a VIP donor. By then his tournaments had helped bring in more than $325,000 in donations.
Now, he feels betrayed and disappointed by the news that much of the money, instead of helping wounded veterans and their families, went instead to often lavish meetings, conferences, and retreats.
“I feel like I am representing all these people who have donated over the years, all these seniors over 65 sending $19 month, all these people on fixed incomes,” Kane told CBS News last week. “If no one is going to talk about this right now and it has to be me, then it has to be me.”
On Monday, News13 once again spoke to Kane about what he hopes will continue from the wide network of donors and like-minded supporters that he has built over all of these years.
“It kind of takes the wind out of everybody’s sails,” he said of the news. “I think there will be a couple of folks on the (golf tournament) board who will continue doing something. Everybody knows what we need to do to take care of these men and women that came back wounded. That’ll continue.”
While he couldn’t speak for other board members, Kane did express at least preliminary interest in supporting the development of a Fisher House in Charleston. The facilities help house veterans and their families while the veterans seek care at nearby Veterans Affairs hospitals.