Investigation Puts B.A.D.D. in Bad Light

By Bud Wilkinson of RIDE-CT.com

The charitable work of the non-profit group Bikers Against Drunk Drivers was seriously questioned this week in an investigative report done by an Orlando, FL television station, prompting the state to launch an investigation into B.A.D.D.’s practices.

WESH-TV spent three months looking into B.A.D.D. and determined that of the $879,891 raised through donations in 2012, only $8,704 – or less than one percent – went to victims of drunk drivers.

During the same period, B.A.D.D. spent $201,827 on rent, $32,472 on bank charges, $28,066 on a prize display, $13,882 on advertising, $6,827 on supplies and $6,679 on postage, according to reporter Matt Grant’s story.

In 2011, B.A.D.D. raised $950,487 but only gave $9,250 to victims, again less than one percent. But it did spend $484,056 on professional fund-raisers. In 2010, B.A.D.D. reported raising $912,006, but only gave away $2,425 (or one-quarter of one percent).

WESH-TV tried to interview the charity’s founder, Danny Perkins (picture taken from Facebook page), but only received an email comment which stated, “The charity speaks for itself.”

In the email, Perkins maintained that the charity’s mandate is “exposure and awareness, period.” However, the home page of its website states B.A.D.D.’s mandate takes a two-fold approach:

– “To reduce the incidence of drunk driving and is consequences through promotion and awareness to the mainstream in malls, major events, annual tours and the media.”

And…

– “To create an emegency fund for victims of drunk drivers while they await other compensation and/or where no other compensation is forthcoming.”

WESH-TV’s report further revealed that while Perkins lists his address as a post office box in Ormond Beach, FL, he actually lives in a nearly $1 million ultra-luxury high-rise in Miami with “a woman named Wahida Benferhat, who coincidentally is listed as the charity’s director.” The condo was purchased in March and there’s no recorded mortgage, suggesting it was bought with cash, said the report, which added that records also show that there’s also a 27-foot pleasure boat registered in the charity’s name.

The full investigative 5:08 story by WESH-TV video can be seen here.