Operation Homefront fires co-founder after $36K in goods donated to military families go missing

Mark Stehle / AP Images for Advance Auto Parts file

Amy Palmer, co-founder of Operation Homefront, talks during a press conference in 2010.

By Bill Briggs, NBC News contributor

A founder of Operation Homefront, one of the largest safety nets for wounded veterans in financial trouble, has been fired for allegedly possessing goods meant for struggling military families — many of which now face heightened money worries as the government shutdown threatens their benefit checks. 

Amy Palmer, formerly the organization's chief development officer, was terminated within the past three weeks after employees at the San Antonio-based nonprofit noted a $36,000 discrepancy between their records of donated items and what goods actually were on hand, available for delivery to current military members and ex-troops, confirmed Tom Greer, a spokesman for Operation Homefront. 

"Regardless of role, we hold all Operation Homefront employees accountable to the very highest standards of conduct," Greer said. He did not elaborate on what donated items were involved. 

Palmer did not respond to a request for comment by NBC News.

Founded in 2002, Operation Homefront helps military families navigate rough financial times by providing food assistance, auto and home repair, vision care, travel and transportation, moving assistance, essential home items, and financial aid. This includes help to veterans who were wounded or became ill after Sept. 11, 2001. 

According to the nonprofit watchdog site Charity Navigator, Operation Homefront has earned a perfect score for accountability and transparency.

During 2012, the group accepted $66.8 million in contributions, donations and grants and, in turn, spent $51.7 million on its programs and services. The nonprofit reports that it has helped 4,200 "wounded warrior families." 

The work to plug holes in the budgets of military and veteran families gained urgency Wednesday when Veteran Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki warned a congressional oversight committee that, if the federal shutdown lingers into late October, more than 5 million veterans would not receive their November compensation checks.

Should that occur, veterans would likely need to turn increasingly to organizations like Operation Homefront to keep their homes and feed their families. 

In his explanation of Palmer's termination, Operation Homefront spokesman Greer acknowledged the importance of the group maintaining the public's trust.  

"Given that our ability to deliver our mission is based on the bonds of trust and confidence we hold with each other, and in turn, with those who so generously support us, we had no choice but to take this action," Greer said.

 

 

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