John Melia, one of the Wounded Warrior Project’s four founders, announced late Friday he was open to leading the organization following the loss of the group’s top two executives.
The Wounded Warriors board of directors fired its top two executives Thursday in response to an audit that found the group is spending much of the money it raises on its own executives and staff instead of veterans.
The largest veteran-related nonprofit terminated CEO Steven Nardizzi and Chief Operating Officer Al Giordano following a board meeting in Manhattan Thursday afternoon.
Wounded Warriors has posted significant fundraising numbers over the past few years and raised more than $350 million in 2014. A CBS News investigation of the 13-year-old organization concluded it spent 54 to 60 percent of its funding on veterans, compared with other veterans’ groups average of 90 percent. The TV network’s report concluded the group directed much of its funding to staff retreats and higher-than-average salaries.
The board also reviewed complaints from 40 of Wounded Warriors 147 employees in Thursday’s meeting. It has created an Office of the CEO to oversee the organization temporarily.
