New York seeks to dissolve veterans' charity over alleged misuse of donations

The New York Attorney General's office has filed a civil lawsuit seeking to shut down Healing for Heroes, A Disabled Veteran's Retreat and Wooded Oasis, Inc. The office alleges that the charity raised nearly $100,000 after launching in 2024, with almost half going toward personal shopping, meals, vehicle expenses and improvements to property owned by its leaders rather than services for injured veterans.

Investigators say the nonprofit held four retreats in 2024 and 2025, attended only by board members, relatives and close friends. Disabled veterans without personal ties to the leaders were turned away before they could apply. Court documents say the leaders later claimed they could not afford full weekend retreats and instead held brief gatherings with food donated by local businesses.

The lawsuit asks the court to dissolve the organization permanently and transfer its remaining assets to legitimate nonprofits serving disabled veterans. The state also seeks repayment of money taken from donors, civil penalties and permanent bans on the leaders collecting charitable donations or serving as officers or directors of nonprofits registered in New York.