Wreaths in Arlington National Cemetery Photo: Roger Smith, via Creative Commons
Wreaths Across America says it is actively addressing concerns raised about its financial practices, which were reported on by the Sanford Springvale News last week.
The organization was responding to a decision by Southern Maine Veterans’ Cemetery and Rolling Thunder Chapter 1 to end their affiliation with the wreaths organization and assume local responsibility for the annual pre-Christmas wreath-laying ceremony.
Wreaths Across America said it has “actively engaged” with CharityWatch to address concerns about conflicts of interest and lack of financial transparency arising from the close relationship between the parent non-profit organization and its exclusive vendor, Worcester Wreath Co. Members of the same family serve in leadership with both the non-profit and the private company.
“The relationship between these two entities is neither new nor concealed. In fact, it is part of our organization’s history and has always been publicly disclosed,” according to a statement from Amber Caron, communications director for Wreaths Across America.
Since 2016, WAA says it has followed a competitive bidding process overseen by an independent committee and administered by a third-party procurement company. The Worcester family does not participate in procurement decisions involving its company. This process, along with established conflict-of-interest policies, board recusal procedures, annual independent audits, and public IRS disclosures, is designed to ensure transparency, accountability, and fairness.
In addition, the organization says it has updated its privacy policies based on feedback from CharityWatch, resulting in an improved rating in that category and also provided the organization with audited financial statements and IRS Form 990 filings. “We remain open to continued dialogue,” Caron wrote.
CharityWatch gave the wreaths organization a “?” rating based on several concerns, including findings that the non-profit organization spent nearly $100 million over a recent three-year period on wreaths purchased exclusively through Worcester Wreath Co.
Wreaths Across America says it respects the local organizers’ decision to disengage. “However, we believe it is important for the community to understand that WAA was willing to work collaboratively to find a solution that would allow continued participation without requiring full cemetery coverage.”
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