Every December, volunteers stream into Arlington National Cemetery to lay wreaths on the graves of the nation’s veterans. It is one of those quietly powerful rituals that feels almost untouchable. This year, though, the charity behind the effort, Wreaths Across America, is facing uncomfortable questions about how it spends its money and who is cashing the biggest checks.
Watchdog Raises Red Flags On Family Payments
CharityWatch, an independent watchdog group, told the 7News I-Team that nearly $100 million has been routed from Wreaths Across America to Worcester family businesses over the last three years, a concentration the group calls “highly unusual.” As reported by 7News, the concern is not that wreaths are being bought, but whether the nonprofit’s purchasing and oversight practices are strong enough to protect donors and the mission when so much money flows to one related family operation.
What The Tax Filings Reveal
In its 2024 tax filing, Wreaths Across America reports paying $28,512,303 to Worcester Resources, which does business as Worcester Wreath, for wreaths, balsam products and flags, and it discloses family ties between the charity’s leadership and that vendor, according to the organization’s 2024 Form 990. The same filing notes that the charity’s chief financial officer earns more than $220,000, while executive director Karen Worcester is listed as a full-time, unpaid employee, details that watchdogs say make clear and documented oversight of vendor pricing even more critical (Wreaths Across America).
Watchdog And Experts See Conflict Risks
CharityWatch’s analysis argues that repeated, high-dollar payments to a family-owned, for-profit supplier create an inherent conflict of interest that can shake public confidence in the charity’s independence. The group is pressing Wreaths Across America to release audited financial statements and spell out its procurement safeguards so donors, volunteers and civic partners can see exactly how decisions are made and overseen (CharityWatch).
Charity Defends Its Bidding Process
Wreaths Across America says it uses a public request-for-proposal process that is overseen by an outside consultant, and that board members with family connections to vendors recuse themselves from those decisions. The charity also points to its long relationship with the Worcester suppliers as part of the group’s history and logistical backbone. Its explanation of the RFP process, conflict-of-interest procedures and other oversight measures appears in the organization’s nonprofit information and program materials (Wreaths Across America).
What Donors And Volunteers Can Expect Next
For now, volunteers and local groups are still gearing up for wreath-laying events, even as watchdogs keep pushing for more sunlight on the books. Advocates for stronger oversight say that timely audited financials and clearer documentation of how contracts are awarded would go a long way toward restoring confidence. The charity has told reporters that its audit for the year ending December 31, 2024, is underway and will be released once it is complete, as reported by 7News.
