The future suddenly looks a lot brighter for the Five STAR Veterans Center in Jacksonville. After months of waiting, the center today received a signed letter from the state of Florida saying its land and its bank accounts are safe from seizure.
The center had been in danger of closing its doors because it couldn’t raise the money it needed to keep going. The problem was its early affiliation with the Allied Veterans of the World whose internet cafes were shut down for alleged illegal online gambling.
The head of the Five STAR Veterans Center, retired Marine Colonel Len Loving, says there were people who wanted to help out financially.
"But they did not want to do so for fear that the money would be in a bank account and could be seized. This way we can prove that the state of Florida has agreed that they do not have any intention of coming after any of our properties," he said.
Not only will the letter assure donors that the Five STAR Veterans Center Veterans Center won’t be confiscated by the government, Loving says it also clears the way for the center to partner with other non-profits and to apply for federal grants.
