Is BADD – Bikers Againsts Drunk Drivers Bad?

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  Posted by RussBrown January 21, 2014 - Filed in Motorcycle News - 24,754 views
  

  Orlando news station investigates BADD and finds it comes up short.
  
  The NBC affiliate serving the Orlando, Florida area conducted an investigation into the nationally known nonprofit Bikers Against Drunk Drivers (BADD) and has brought to light some serious concerns.
  
  WESH 2 News has been looking into the Ormond Beach, Florida charity for the past three months though there was no mention as to what prompted the station to begin the investigation into the 28-year-old nonprofit.
  
  The mission of BADD is to raise awareness and offer victims financial assistance and WESH 2 News found a recipient of who has benefited from the charity.  Former police officer Joe Parrish was hit by a drunk driver in April and has had numerous surgeries as his leg is still trying to be saved.  BADD agreed to pay for the costs of one of his medications – the least expensive one at $1,300.
  
  However, it’s the numbers that are raising eyebrows amongst those that are savvy with the inner workings of nonprofits.  According to Florida state records, BADD took in approximately $879,000 in 2012; yet only $8,700 was paid out to victims which is less than one percent.
  
  In 2011 almost one million was collected yet only $9,200 was paid out.
  
  Records are open for inspection, as with any nonprofit, and it appears that WESH investigated to see over a one year period where the money was going.
  
  

  • $201,827 for rent
  • $32,472 on bank charges
  • $28,066 on a prize display
  • $6,827 on supplies
  • $6,679 on postage and shipping
  • $13,882 on advertising

  
  “I think that’s completely pathetic,” said president of Charity Navigator, Ken Berger.  “A miniscule amount of money is going to meet the mission.  Any time we see that happening we get very concerned.”  Berger went on to say that he would give BADD a zero rating.
  
  The records were even more surprising in 2010 when just $2,400 was paid after reaping $912,000 in total revenue – that equates to less than 0.2 percent.
  
  WESH attempted to get a quote from a woman who was working at BADD’s “global headquarters” which is located at Destination Daytona but she declined.
  
  After trying for more than a month to receive a quote from the charity’s founder, Danny Perkins, finally came out and said he was unable to do so for “health and legal reasons”.
  
  WESH continued asking how the donations were being spent and Perkins did confirm via email that “the charity speaks for itself” and said BADD had distributed more than 5 million flyers and utilized Facebook to encourage people not to drink and drive.
  

  How to choose a charity to donate to?
  
  So how do you know if the charity is good or bad?  Is most of the money going to victims or to pay it’s staff?  Charity Navigator is an organization that investigates charities and reports all its finding at www.Charitynavigator.org.  They list the highest paid CEO’s running the lowest rated charities, the top charities, high-rated charities with the lowest paid CEO’s etc etc. In regards to BADD, Charity Navigator has a donor advisory on it. The internet has made it easy to check the rating of a charity so do your homework. Also there are many local motorcycle events that are raising money for someone in need, someone in the community.  Participate and show your support.  Almost all the money raised at those local events go directly to the person in need.
  
  Russ Brown Motorcycle Attorneys, proud supporters of Rolling Thunder® Charities.
  

   

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