The Red Fridays Foundation of Canada & Repatriation Memorial Rally (May 08): Objections & Praise
- Thread starter Amos
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http://www.redfridays.ca/donations.html
I saw nothing in the site the established what portion of the "proceeds" will be donated.
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National Red Fridays Memorial Day May 31st 2008
What is the sound of a repatriation?
Is it the sound of the chatter on TV announcing the name of the fallen serving our country? Perhaps the sound from the roar of the large military jet landing in Trenton? Is it the sound of the doors opening on the air craft or the sound of the boots of the soldiers carrying the coffin? Is it the sound of the pipers playing a song of sorrow, or the sound of the commanding officer calling his orders. Was it the sound of the Hearse doors opening or the sound of the people and family near by. Repatriation may be the sound of the cars moving to the Highway of Heroes but then again it may be the sound of the people standing on the bridges. Is it the sound of the traffic going by in anticipation of the procession or the sound of the occasional horn honking as drivers see you on the bridge. Maybe it's the sound of the flags flapping in the wind that people are holding. Then in the distance the procession is in sight and the people on the bridge are mumbling "here it comes". Is the sound of repatriation the police sirens that fills the air as the procession reaches your bridge? The sound of sirens vibrate in your chest then in a beat of your heart you finally hear the sound of a repatriation. It is the sound of a silent "Thank You" from you and all the people around you to the soldier that gave his life for his country; your country. This is the sound of a repatriation; our freedom.
Many supporters have written to us saying how they would love to come to the Repatriation Memorial Drive and Rally event this May in Trenton and Toronto but can not attend because they are faraway. We have received letters from coast to coast.
One of our supporters suggested to ask everyone to have their own Red Fridays Celebration on the same day across the nation. We agree this is a great idea.
No matter how small or how big, have a Red Fridays celebration and memorial day on May 31 2008.
It may be a few friends at your home, your local sports group at a game, the local Legion or a community event. Lets us know by using the contact form above and register your event with Red Fridays website. We will announce your event and all its particulars on our site.
Help us unite Canada in celebration of the military family and the Canadian Forces members. Share with Canada the gratitude we all share for those who have lost their lives in protecting our sovereignty and fighting for the freedom we all hold so dear.
Ask your local politicians to get involved, ask your local businesses to help make your event a success. Invite your community or your friends and family to gather, wear something red and unite in one common cause... Supporting our Troops!
Come Canada, lets make this special day on May 31 a day to remember for all Canadians. Lets set a record of the largest united celebration in demonstrating our support for our troops.
-RFFC
Link: http://www.redfridays.ca/may312008.php
What is the sound of a repatriation?
Is it the sound of the chatter on TV announcing the name of the fallen serving our country? Perhaps the sound from the roar of the large military jet landing in Trenton? Is it the sound of the doors opening on the air craft or the sound of the boots of the soldiers carrying the coffin? Is it the sound of the pipers playing a song of sorrow, or the sound of the commanding officer calling his orders. Was it the sound of the Hearse doors opening or the sound of the people and family near by. Repatriation may be the sound of the cars moving to the Highway of Heroes but then again it may be the sound of the people standing on the bridges. Is it the sound of the traffic going by in anticipation of the procession or the sound of the occasional horn honking as drivers see you on the bridge. Maybe it's the sound of the flags flapping in the wind that people are holding. Then in the distance the procession is in sight and the people on the bridge are mumbling "here it comes". Is the sound of repatriation the police sirens that fills the air as the procession reaches your bridge? The sound of sirens vibrate in your chest then in a beat of your heart you finally hear the sound of a repatriation. It is the sound of a silent "Thank You" from you and all the people around you to the soldier that gave his life for his country; your country. This is the sound of a repatriation; our freedom.
Many supporters have written to us saying how they would love to come to the Repatriation Memorial Drive and Rally event this May in Trenton and Toronto but can not attend because they are faraway. We have received letters from coast to coast.
One of our supporters suggested to ask everyone to have their own Red Fridays Celebration on the same day across the nation. We agree this is a great idea.
No matter how small or how big, have a Red Fridays celebration and memorial day on May 31 2008.
It may be a few friends at your home, your local sports group at a game, the local Legion or a community event. Lets us know by using the contact form above and register your event with Red Fridays website. We will announce your event and all its particulars on our site.
Help us unite Canada in celebration of the military family and the Canadian Forces members. Share with Canada the gratitude we all share for those who have lost their lives in protecting our sovereignty and fighting for the freedom we all hold so dear.
Ask your local politicians to get involved, ask your local businesses to help make your event a success. Invite your community or your friends and family to gather, wear something red and unite in one common cause... Supporting our Troops!
Come Canada, lets make this special day on May 31 a day to remember for all Canadians. Lets set a record of the largest united celebration in demonstrating our support for our troops.
-RFFC
Link: http://www.redfridays.ca/may312008.php
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The sound of sirens vibrate in your chest then in a beat of your heart you finally hear the sound of a repatriation. It is the sound of a silent "Thank You" from you and all the people around you to the soldier that gave his life for his country; your country. This is the sound of a repatriation; our freedom.
Ummm... isn't Nov 11th the day that has already been set asside to give thanks and remembrance to the soldier that gave his life for his country?
I don't mind setting asside a second day but, possibly, people should come out in greater numbers on NOVEMBER 11th
Ummm... isn't Nov 11th the day that has already been set asside to give thanks and remembrance to the soldier that gave his life for his country?
I don't mind setting asside a second day but, possibly, people should come out in greater numbers on NOVEMBER 11th
the 48th regulator
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geo said:
I totally agree with you Geo.
It is hard enough to have people come out and understand what November 11th means, but by having something like this only muddyies the waters. Why can't they delay that for November is beyond me.
dileas
tess
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I didn't see this as something that could take away from November 11th ceremonies, but I respect the differing opinions posted here. 
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The RCL and other veterans groups support Geo's assertion that Canada's approach of commemerating all those who gave their lives in service on 11 Nov, provides the largest public message. I support the message of 11 Nov as a day to remember. The Wear Red on Fridays Foundation and other groups are more than welcome to spread their message, in support of our troops, but I do not think another special date to commemerate our troops is called for.
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Then again, talk to anyone that has lost someone to war and they will tell you that EVERY day is a Rememberance day.
[/quote]
I don't think another remembrance day is required. What next, make it a holiday? I don't think the next of kin need another day when the passing of their loved one is splashed all over the paper or TV.
Apr 22 :'( :'( and Nov 11 is suffice for me, of course I :'( the other 363 also. But thats just me.
[/quote]
I don't think another remembrance day is required. What next, make it a holiday? I don't think the next of kin need another day when the passing of their loved one is splashed all over the paper or TV.
Apr 22 :'( :'( and Nov 11 is suffice for me, of course I :'( the other 363 also. But thats just me.
the 48th regulator
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Celticgirl said:I didn't see this as something that could take away from November 11th ceremonies, but I respect the differing opinions posted here.
We appreciate that you respect our opinions here, however has anyone given any thought as to why we would have such a rally?
I mean would it not be better suited for the people of Red Fridays to concentrate their efforts towards the day designated for remembrance? By creating all of these other days, to make people feel good about the support they give the troops, it will be one more reason for people not to attend a memorial service on cold November day.
"Well I attended the rally in May, so I have shown my support, I will stay in for this remembrance day and watch it on the telly"
See the damage it causes? The heart may be in the right place, but a little forthought and investigation by the Red Friday group is definitely needed.
Just because one labels a view as an "Opinion" does not make it right and too sacred to be criticized.
dileas
tess
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the 48th regulator said:
Yes, I do see your point, and until I read the responses here, I honestly hadn't looked at it that way. I love seeing any show of support for our troops, but if having a rally in May will somehow cause people not to attend Remembrance Day ceremonies, then you are right, it's not all positive. :-\
For the record, I'm not a Red Friday organizer. I received this message on Facebook and wanted to pass it along for those who might be interested. I think the Red Fridays campaign has been a good thing on the whole - it seems that people are showing more support on a daily or weekly basis for the CF than in the past. However, if people think that the May rally is in any way negative or damaging, I would encourage them to follow that link and pass that message on to the organizers.
the 48th regulator
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Celticgirl said:
If the organizers are in tune with the troops and Vets, I am sure they will see this thread.
The site has been around for a while.
dileas
tess
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Split over rally for war deadMany with ties to military don't endorse Red Flags Foundations event
By MARK BONOKOSKI
The two Petawawa women who conceived the idea of wearing red on Fridays to support our Canadian troops have divorced themselves from a massive rally this weekend that mirrors the actual repatriation of soldiers killed in Afghanistan.
Neither Lisa Miller, a military wife, nor her friend, Karen Boire, wants anything to do with the rally's organizer, the Red Fridays Foundation of Canada, a private operation that took its name from the women's grassroots movement.
"We started Red Fridays as a small thing back in March 2006," Miller says. "We held a rally in Ottawa. There was another in Toronto and then, seven months later, there was this Red Friday's website that had nothing to do with us.
"It even had our names on the donations page. We were appalled and wanted nothing to do with it," she says. "Veterans were contributing to it thinking we were behind it.
"But, trust me, we weren't -- and we aren't."
'OBVIOUSLY HESITANT'
In fact, since its launch in late 2006, the Red Fridays Foundation of Canada has admittedly donated no more than $1,000 to Canadian Forces charities.
"It took the military nine weeks to cash that ($1,000) cheque. It's obviously hesitant to get involved," said the foundation's founder, York University IT consultant Brian Muntz. "So we are looking elsewhere for ways to help our veterans."
Muntz insists, however, that all is on the up and up and that he will soon post complete financials of his operation.
"I know there have been allegations out there that I am nothing but a scammer," he admits. "People are entitled to their own opinion.
"But do you think I am go -ing to go out there and pull a scam when I have three police departments involved (in the rally), and I've got 15 family members of the fallen involved?
"Well, I'd be a lunatic to do that, wouldn't I?"
Now just beginning to attract national media attention, the massive rally scheduled this Saturday from Trenton to Toronto -- along the hallowed Highway of Heroes stretch of the 401 -- will be led by a convoy of 83 red cars representing each Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan since 2001, and with the lead car emblazoned with the names of all the fallen.
Muntz and his organizers are hoping to have upward of 1,000 vehicles in the cortege.
"Limited spaces left. Register now for the Repatriation Memorial Drive and Rally," reads the outfit's website, boasting that the rally will be "escorted down the highway by the OPP Golden Helmet Motorcade, other OPP vehicles, as well as Durham Police and Toronto Police vehicles."
"The procession will look extraordinary as they (sic) pass your overpass," the literature reads. "Remember to bring a Canadian flag to wave proudly as these drivers retrace the trip a fallen soldier takes to honour their sacrifices and to pay tribute to all service men and women and their families."
It will be a "fun-filled day for the entire family," the promotional material reads.
There is also a form on the website for rally participants to gather pledges, with a note to make cheques and corporate gifts payable to the Red Fridays Foundation of Canada.
The sophisticated website also flogs a veritable catalogue's worth of "Support Our Troops" decals, car magnets, lapel pins, T-shirts and ball caps, and sports a "Donate Now" icon for easy online credit card payment.
NEW LETTER
There is a reworked, read-and-weep letter, supposedly from the daughter of a Canadian soldier, that was outed long ago by Snopes.com as likely being fiction.
While what it is doing is not illegal, the ethics of this "foundation" are nonetheless being questioned.
Cases in point that raise concern:
* The organization's flagship vehicle, a red Dodge Magnum wagon donated by a Scarborough Chrysler dealership, is decked out with the names of the 83 Canadian soldiers, and one diplomat, killed so far in Afghanistan, leading its critics -- many in the military -- to denounce it as exploitive and in bad taste.
One of the names on that list is that of Cpl. Glen Arnold, a 32-year-old military medic from Petawawa who was killed by a suicide bomber on Sept. 18, 2006, in an attack that also took the lives of Cpl. Shane Keating, Cpl. Keith Morley and Pte. David Byers of the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based in Shilo.
Arnold's widow, Kerry, a mother of three, wants no part of the upcoming rally, and no part of her husband's name on that car.
"I want it off," she says from Petawawa. "No one called me to ask my permission. In fact, no one has ever spoken to me about it whatsoever. I think it is wrong."
And so, too, does a military chaplain.
"I do not want to see a tra velling billboard claiming it is honouring the fallen. What it does is cheapen them," says Capt. Phil Ralph, padre of the 32nd Combat Engineers Regiment, and a minister who has already knocked on three doors to tell families their loved one is not coming home.
"I'm uncomfortable with it all. First, it is not a registered charity ... and that leaves me uneasy because there are a number of good options for true charities supporting our troops," he says.
"The Canadian public really cares about our troops, and this only confuses them. Mixed messages usually do."
* A wounded Canadian hero, Cpl. Mike McTeague, his leg blown off in Afghanistan by the same suicide bomber who killed Kerry Arnold's husband, has repeatedly asked that his picture be removed from the website since he does not endorse it.
Instead he'd rather money be donated to a legitimate charity, including one registered in his name -- The Sapper Mike McTeague Wounded Warriors Fund (wounded warriors.ca) -- which helps support Canadian soldiers and veterans who have suffered battle injuries or post-traumatic stress disorder from service in Afghanistan.
"I feel used," says the 22-year-old McTeague, son of an OPP constable based out of Orillia. "I sent an e-mail to (Muntz) almost three weeks ago asking him to take my picture, and any reference to me, off his website.
"He e-mailed me back and said he would take it down, but, far as I know, it is still there."
McTeague is right. It has yet to be removed.
* The department of national defence (DND), while supporting community-based Red Friday campaigns, such as the one first started by Miller and Boire, has made it clear in correspondence that those campaigns are "not to be confused with the Red Friday Foundation, which is not a charity, and is not affiliated with DND or the Canadian Forces (CF)," writes DND spokesman Andrew Mc- Kelvey.
"Canadians who wish to show support can purchase 'Support Our Troops' merchandise made available through the Canadian Forces Personnel and Family Support Agency (CFPSA)," he says.
Muntz's website -- red fridays.ca -- does publish a disclaimer that the Red Fridays Foundation of Canada is not a registered charity, although the word "foundation" can give the subliminal impression that it is.
"Please note that (the foundation) is not a charity and cannot give tax receipts," the disclaimer reads. "We are a public awareness group."
There is then a link to the donations page.
According to Muntz, cash drives at various trade shows have netted "only a few hundred dollars" after the expense of renting booths.
This weekend's rally, he said, has already raised $11,000, money that will now just cover the costs of such expenses as lighting and stage presentations.
Brian Wilkins, a Durham truck driver, who recently spent six months in Afghanistan on a civilian contract, and who is the designated spokesman for the Red Fridays Foundation of Canada, said the rally is hoping to net $12,000 once all costs are paid -- not for the foundation -- but for the Canadian Hearing Society, which supplies special equipment to hearing-damaged veterans.
The car bearing the names of dead Canadian soldiers and the one diplomat will reportedly be auctioned off later this year, with proceeds earmarked for the Tony Stacey Centre for Veterans Care in Scarborough.
'I DON'T KNOW WHY'
"Charities, by law, are not allowed to give money to charities," Wilkins says. "But registering as a charity is something we are looking into."
"The military is not behind us 100%," he admits. "And I don't know why.
"As for Brian Muntz, I've seen the man cry when people have questioned his honesty. You can't fake that. The man would be a fool to try to pull off something (untoward) with this high a national profile.
"I checked him out myself before getting involved (in the foundation), and I stand behind him 100%," Wilkins says. "It would blow me away if I found out he had scammed so much as a single dollar.
"He got involved because his parents were liberated by Canadian troops in Holland, and he wants to give back.
"I'm sure there is no bull shit going on."
By MARK BONOKOSKI
The two Petawawa women who conceived the idea of wearing red on Fridays to support our Canadian troops have divorced themselves from a massive rally this weekend that mirrors the actual repatriation of soldiers killed in Afghanistan.
Neither Lisa Miller, a military wife, nor her friend, Karen Boire, wants anything to do with the rally's organizer, the Red Fridays Foundation of Canada, a private operation that took its name from the women's grassroots movement.
"We started Red Fridays as a small thing back in March 2006," Miller says. "We held a rally in Ottawa. There was another in Toronto and then, seven months later, there was this Red Friday's website that had nothing to do with us.
"It even had our names on the donations page. We were appalled and wanted nothing to do with it," she says. "Veterans were contributing to it thinking we were behind it.
"But, trust me, we weren't -- and we aren't."
'OBVIOUSLY HESITANT'
In fact, since its launch in late 2006, the Red Fridays Foundation of Canada has admittedly donated no more than $1,000 to Canadian Forces charities.
"It took the military nine weeks to cash that ($1,000) cheque. It's obviously hesitant to get involved," said the foundation's founder, York University IT consultant Brian Muntz. "So we are looking elsewhere for ways to help our veterans."
Muntz insists, however, that all is on the up and up and that he will soon post complete financials of his operation.
"I know there have been allegations out there that I am nothing but a scammer," he admits. "People are entitled to their own opinion.
"But do you think I am go -ing to go out there and pull a scam when I have three police departments involved (in the rally), and I've got 15 family members of the fallen involved?
"Well, I'd be a lunatic to do that, wouldn't I?"
Now just beginning to attract national media attention, the massive rally scheduled this Saturday from Trenton to Toronto -- along the hallowed Highway of Heroes stretch of the 401 -- will be led by a convoy of 83 red cars representing each Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan since 2001, and with the lead car emblazoned with the names of all the fallen.
Muntz and his organizers are hoping to have upward of 1,000 vehicles in the cortege.
"Limited spaces left. Register now for the Repatriation Memorial Drive and Rally," reads the outfit's website, boasting that the rally will be "escorted down the highway by the OPP Golden Helmet Motorcade, other OPP vehicles, as well as Durham Police and Toronto Police vehicles."
"The procession will look extraordinary as they (sic) pass your overpass," the literature reads. "Remember to bring a Canadian flag to wave proudly as these drivers retrace the trip a fallen soldier takes to honour their sacrifices and to pay tribute to all service men and women and their families."
It will be a "fun-filled day for the entire family," the promotional material reads.
There is also a form on the website for rally participants to gather pledges, with a note to make cheques and corporate gifts payable to the Red Fridays Foundation of Canada.
The sophisticated website also flogs a veritable catalogue's worth of "Support Our Troops" decals, car magnets, lapel pins, T-shirts and ball caps, and sports a "Donate Now" icon for easy online credit card payment.
NEW LETTER
There is a reworked, read-and-weep letter, supposedly from the daughter of a Canadian soldier, that was outed long ago by Snopes.com as likely being fiction.
While what it is doing is not illegal, the ethics of this "foundation" are nonetheless being questioned.
Cases in point that raise concern:
* The organization's flagship vehicle, a red Dodge Magnum wagon donated by a Scarborough Chrysler dealership, is decked out with the names of the 83 Canadian soldiers, and one diplomat, killed so far in Afghanistan, leading its critics -- many in the military -- to denounce it as exploitive and in bad taste.
One of the names on that list is that of Cpl. Glen Arnold, a 32-year-old military medic from Petawawa who was killed by a suicide bomber on Sept. 18, 2006, in an attack that also took the lives of Cpl. Shane Keating, Cpl. Keith Morley and Pte. David Byers of the 2nd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based in Shilo.
Arnold's widow, Kerry, a mother of three, wants no part of the upcoming rally, and no part of her husband's name on that car.
"I want it off," she says from Petawawa. "No one called me to ask my permission. In fact, no one has ever spoken to me about it whatsoever. I think it is wrong."
And so, too, does a military chaplain.
"I do not want to see a tra velling billboard claiming it is honouring the fallen. What it does is cheapen them," says Capt. Phil Ralph, padre of the 32nd Combat Engineers Regiment, and a minister who has already knocked on three doors to tell families their loved one is not coming home.
"I'm uncomfortable with it all. First, it is not a registered charity ... and that leaves me uneasy because there are a number of good options for true charities supporting our troops," he says.
"The Canadian public really cares about our troops, and this only confuses them. Mixed messages usually do."
* A wounded Canadian hero, Cpl. Mike McTeague, his leg blown off in Afghanistan by the same suicide bomber who killed Kerry Arnold's husband, has repeatedly asked that his picture be removed from the website since he does not endorse it.
Instead he'd rather money be donated to a legitimate charity, including one registered in his name -- The Sapper Mike McTeague Wounded Warriors Fund (wounded warriors.ca) -- which helps support Canadian soldiers and veterans who have suffered battle injuries or post-traumatic stress disorder from service in Afghanistan.
"I feel used," says the 22-year-old McTeague, son of an OPP constable based out of Orillia. "I sent an e-mail to (Muntz) almost three weeks ago asking him to take my picture, and any reference to me, off his website.
"He e-mailed me back and said he would take it down, but, far as I know, it is still there."
McTeague is right. It has yet to be removed.
* The department of national defence (DND), while supporting community-based Red Friday campaigns, such as the one first started by Miller and Boire, has made it clear in correspondence that those campaigns are "not to be confused with the Red Friday Foundation, which is not a charity, and is not affiliated with DND or the Canadian Forces (CF)," writes DND spokesman Andrew Mc- Kelvey.
"Canadians who wish to show support can purchase 'Support Our Troops' merchandise made available through the Canadian Forces Personnel and Family Support Agency (CFPSA)," he says.
Muntz's website -- red fridays.ca -- does publish a disclaimer that the Red Fridays Foundation of Canada is not a registered charity, although the word "foundation" can give the subliminal impression that it is.
"Please note that (the foundation) is not a charity and cannot give tax receipts," the disclaimer reads. "We are a public awareness group."
There is then a link to the donations page.
According to Muntz, cash drives at various trade shows have netted "only a few hundred dollars" after the expense of renting booths.
This weekend's rally, he said, has already raised $11,000, money that will now just cover the costs of such expenses as lighting and stage presentations.
Brian Wilkins, a Durham truck driver, who recently spent six months in Afghanistan on a civilian contract, and who is the designated spokesman for the Red Fridays Foundation of Canada, said the rally is hoping to net $12,000 once all costs are paid -- not for the foundation -- but for the Canadian Hearing Society, which supplies special equipment to hearing-damaged veterans.
The car bearing the names of dead Canadian soldiers and the one diplomat will reportedly be auctioned off later this year, with proceeds earmarked for the Tony Stacey Centre for Veterans Care in Scarborough.
'I DON'T KNOW WHY'
"Charities, by law, are not allowed to give money to charities," Wilkins says. "But registering as a charity is something we are looking into."
"The military is not behind us 100%," he admits. "And I don't know why.
"As for Brian Muntz, I've seen the man cry when people have questioned his honesty. You can't fake that. The man would be a fool to try to pull off something (untoward) with this high a national profile.
"I checked him out myself before getting involved (in the foundation), and I stand behind him 100%," Wilkins says. "It would blow me away if I found out he had scammed so much as a single dollar.
"He got involved because his parents were liberated by Canadian troops in Holland, and he wants to give back.
"I'm sure there is no bull shit going on."
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I opened up the Toronto Sun today and this is on the second page. I'm kinda speechless, I had no idea that the Repatriation Rally/Red Friday Foundation was not a registered charity. I guess being a military wife it is unbelievable that someone would try to profit and the back of dead Canadian soldiers. This is me shaking my head in utter disgust. :tsktsk:
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ENGINEERS WIFE said:
Ditto.
I had no idea that this was the situation when I posted about the rally here. I belong to the same military wives' site that the ladies who started Red Fridays belong to, and naturally assumed a connection. It is amazing that their names and the names of the fallen and wounded soldiers are being used without their express permission. Unreal.
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Celticgirl said:Ditto.
I'm not sure I know what name u use on the other site in which we belong, but I am one of the two ladies you speak of Celticgirl.
Let me bring to everyones attention yet another article that appeared in todays edition of the Trenton Ontario "Trentonian" newspaper.
MFRC raises red flag over Red Friday rallies
Posted By Caitlin den Boer - The Trentonian
Posted 10 hours ago
The Trenton Military Family Resource Centre is taking exception to the way a private business is raising money for related military charities.
On May 31, a large-scale Memorial Drive Rally leaving from Trenton’s Centennial Park will take place along the Highway of Heroes and arriving at Downsview Park in Toronto. More than 1,000 people are expected to attend.
The rally is being headed by the Red Friday Foundation a private business that started in 2006.
Upwards of 83 vehicles will make up a memorial procession, followed by the ‘Poppy Truck’ and led by the Red Friday Memorial Car. The memorial car displays the names of the 83 fallen soldiers on the vehicles side panels.
But neither the MFRC nor the Department of National Defence are endorsing the rally.
“This is a private for-profit organization,” said Eve Lawrence, Separation Support Services coordinator for the Trenton MFRC. “There is a lot of not-for-profit organizations and this is not one of them.”
Since the private business’s inception in 2006 it has donated $1,000 to the Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency (CFPSA). The funds were raised from the selling of Support Our Troops, hats, ribbons, pins and shirts.
But, the business will not be donating any more funds to the agency. “The CFPSA is just a big pot and we don’t really know where the money is going to,” said Red Friday Foundation owner Brian Muntz.
The proceeds from Saturday’s rally will go to support the Canadian Hearing Society to cover their funds short fall to assist veterans. Muntz hopes he’ll be able to raise $12,000, for the society with any surplus going to the Tony Stacey Home for Veterans and the Royal Canadian Legion Morale Fund.
It will cost an estimated $10,000 to stage the Memorial Drive and Rally, including the cost of a portable stage, sound gear and the facilities at Downsview Park, said Muntz.
Lisa Miller, an Ottawa resident who started the original Red Friday’s, said she and close friend Karen Boire have run rallies that haven't cost a single penny.
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“We’ve had mixed emotions about this foundation since the beginning,” said Miller, “and the only reason we found out about him because he had our name’s listed on his donation page.”
Miller added that the unknown use of their names on the site, prompted phone calls to her home and that of Boire’s, from people looking to donate to their Red Friday’s campaign.
After Miller contacted Muntz, she said he invited them to participate in his site, and offered them honourary positions and various products, but she says that never led anywhere.
Both Miller and Boire have received awards for their Red Friday efforts.
“People trust people who are trying to do the right thing. It’s a morale thing and you’re taking it on faith,” said Miller.
Miller and Boire weren’t the only people whose name Muntz has used without their permission.
Andrew Eykelenboom, died in August 2006, at the age of 23 when he was killed by a suicide bomber in Spin Boldak, Afghanistan. His name is one of the 83 that appears on the Red Friday Memorial Car.
Andrew’s mother Maureen and creator of Boomer’s Legacy, a charitable foundation, had no idea her son’s name would be on the car or anything about the rally until an interview with The Trentonian from her British Columbia home Monday.
“If they’re using their deaths as a catalyst to do something good, because that’s what they were doing then I will support them,” said Eykelenboom. “But you have to be transparent.”
But, Lt. Commander Hubert Genest from DND Public Affairs in Ottawa stated, “DND is currently looking into intellectual property issues that may arise from The Red Friday Foundation’s us of Canadian Forces’ pictures and other images.”
Genest added, that the “Red Friday” campaigns, like that put on by Miller and Boire are not to be confused with the Red Fridays Foundation.
The foundation is a for-profit, private sector organization that generates funds by selling a variety of products labeled with the slogan “Support Our Troops,” said Genest.
The Canadian Army Veterans Motorcycle Units will be on-hand to assist with parking.
Bill ‘Drifter’ Truman, president of the Kingston Unit said any suspicions the CAV had previously with Muntz and the Red Friday Foundation are no longer present.
“He’s satisfied us with his information,” said Truman, “We have investigated him thoroughly and have kept him at arm’s length but we’re committed to this event. As far as we know he is on the up and up.”
When asked why he didn’t register the Red Friday Foundation as a non-profit charitable organization Muntz stated, “Our intentions are that we will become one, but a charity can not give a way cash donations to another charity.”
Muntz added that in future he hopes to set up scholarships in the name of those who have fallen.
In the event of a repatriation ceremony occurring at the same time as Saturday’s event Muntz said that the event would be postponed to a future date.
“We would go directly to the media and ask everyone to come out to the bridges. They would take precedence in a heartbeat.”
With files from Osprey News Network
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I have to speak up about something else here as well, a little insight for all those interested.
The fact that he states it took 9 weeks for the DND to process his donation cheque to them, the issue lies with his inconsistencies. Mr. Muntz stated to us (the two girls that celticgirl referred to) at one time not long ago (which we can prove) that his donations to the CFPSA were in fact NOT being accepted by the organization. In these articles he states that they were accepted and cashed 9 weeks later...
What is the REAL story?!?!?!
That's what we'd like to know.
Here is more food for thought, Although the red friday foundation of canada is a registered "business" (not to be mistaken for charity) he can not provide tax receipts for donations his foundation receives HOWEVER he can collect tax receipts for the donations that his business makes on other peoples behalfs!!
Think about, the public donates to him, no tax receipts...he takes donated money (and assuming he does donate it) donates it to a charitable donation (if in fact that is the case) and HE receives the tax receipts for his business as those donations have now been made on behalf of the Red Friday's Foundation of Canada
Hmmmm does that sit well... certainly not with me!
:brickwall:
Just as a side note so people dont think I'm some rambling idiot.. I am the Karen along with my best friend who is the Lisa (lisa not a member here) that are mentioned in these articles posted here today.
The fact that he states it took 9 weeks for the DND to process his donation cheque to them, the issue lies with his inconsistencies. Mr. Muntz stated to us (the two girls that celticgirl referred to) at one time not long ago (which we can prove) that his donations to the CFPSA were in fact NOT being accepted by the organization. In these articles he states that they were accepted and cashed 9 weeks later...
What is the REAL story?!?!?!
That's what we'd like to know.
Here is more food for thought, Although the red friday foundation of canada is a registered "business" (not to be mistaken for charity) he can not provide tax receipts for donations his foundation receives HOWEVER he can collect tax receipts for the donations that his business makes on other peoples behalfs!!
Think about, the public donates to him, no tax receipts...he takes donated money (and assuming he does donate it) donates it to a charitable donation (if in fact that is the case) and HE receives the tax receipts for his business as those donations have now been made on behalf of the Red Friday's Foundation of Canada
Hmmmm does that sit well... certainly not with me!
:brickwall:
Just as a side note so people dont think I'm some rambling idiot.. I am the Karen along with my best friend who is the Lisa (lisa not a member here) that are mentioned in these articles posted here today.
- Reaction score
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LadySierra said:I'm not sure I know what name u use on the other site in which we belong, but I am one of the two ladies you speak of Celticgirl.
annapolis71
