Wreaths Across America Paid Over $20 Million to a Company Owned by the Families of Two of its Board Members

Just in time for Christmas, the graves of fallen soldiers have been decorated with wreaths to honor their military service.

For 2023, this occurred on December 16th. The charity responsible for this effort is Wreaths Across America, a 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 2007 with a mission to “conduct wreath ceremonies in all 50 states to remember our fallen US veterans, honor those who serve, and teach our children the value of freedom.”

While honoring our nation’s veterans in this way may be a worthy cause, CharityWatch and The Military Times are raising serious questions about who may benefit most from this effort given that the vast majority of the charity’s sponsorship revenue goes to a wreath supply company owned by the husbands of two of its board members.

Founder Morrill Worcester & wife Karen, Executive Director

It is considered best practice for charities to avoid both real and perceived conflicts of interest, and in this regard Wreaths Across America falls short. The vast majority of its cash spending in fiscal 2022 went to a company owned by the husbands of two of the charity’s board members.

Specifically, in Schedule L of its 2022 IRS Form 990, Wreaths Across America reports “Transactions With Interested Persons” in the amount of $21,457,810. The “Name of interested person” is reported as “Worcester Resources; [dba, Worcester Wreaths];” the “Relationship between interested person and the organization” is reported as “Owners are related to me[sic];” the “Description of transaction” is reported as “Sponsorships, shipping and other.”

According to Wreaths Across America’s fiscal 2022 IRS Form 990, Part VII, and Schedules L & O:

Renee Worcester and Sarah Worcester are officers and employees of Worcester Wreaths. Renee Worcester is reported as a “Director” and “Secretary,” of Wreaths Across America, and Sarah Worcester is reported as a “Director” of the charity.

The husbands of Renee Worcester and Sarah Worcester, who are reported as Michael Worcester and Morrill Worcester II (Robbie), own the majority ownership interest in the company Worcester Wreaths.

The Executive Director of Wreaths Across America, Karen Worcester, who is reported as having worked an average of 40 hours per week for Wreaths Across America while receiving a reported compensation of $0, is also “the mother of the two owners of Worcester Resources.”

Renee Worcester and Sarah Worcester are sisters-in-law. Karen Worcester, the Executive Director, is the mother-in-law to both Renee Worcester and Sarah Worcester. Ann Hanson a Director of Wreaths Across America, and Wayne Hanson, Chairman of the board of Wreaths Across America, are spouses but are reported as “not related to the Worcester family.” Pamela Slaven-Lee, a Director of Wreaths Across America, is reported as “daughter to Karen Worcester.”

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