With one horse and one ride, one girl hopes to help veterans

E'leese Madgett Manrique stood with the flag she has carried while riding through Minnesota on her horse Chips "N" Salsa.

[dave shod]

two questions which i have been unable to get answered over the course of many months. 1) how much was raised? 2) what is being done with the money?

her mom was unaware of the vets camp already up and running vetscampmn.org and was insulted if one would suggest that they may not raise 1 million dollars. She would just say "you're a nay sayer and a non believer". anyway, why don't they contribute what they did raise to the camp that's already running rather than reinvent the wheel? Especially given that they're unwilling to disclose how much money they're raising. i've seen collection cans throughout brainerd and other cites. i hope they're not using a cause to help veterans just to pad their pockets! but, who knows, stranger things have hapened.

[Daniel Terrin]

I also saw your post at another website, and must admit that I too am concerned with this "charity." Normally I do not cast judgment upon others, especially those claiming to run nonprofit organizations. However, this charity has been fishy from the start and the behavior of the mother has been suspicious, at the very least.

[The one who thinks right]

Who do you pepole think you are! this is a young girl trying to do the right thing and you are saying bad things, you must have realy high standerds for your self! I bet you couldn't do half of the stuff that she and her mom have to go through on the ride and now she has two idiots saying this crap!

[Michele Jacobs]

I understand your concern, and your impulsiveness to rush to judgment. However, you must realize not everyone is "attacking" this Mother and her daughter, just questioning. My father is a disabled Vietnam vet and I initially was supportive of their efforts. After all, it is an amazing idea. However, after doing a little background research with the IRS I have found they have not submitted paperwork to be considered a legitimate nonprofit. Until onegirloneride addresses this issue completely, I will continue to donate money to the DAV.

[onegirloneride]

hay its onegirloneride them selves! we have a 5013c, the money is in a bank a count at a wells fargo and we havent used any of he money and remember it just a girl on a hores trying to do the wright things so pleaz be nice. thanks onegirloneride

[Emily Jonason]

Onegirloneride, we are all fond of children, horses, the military, and idealism. For those reasons, we need to assure this is a legitimate and attainable goal before contributing. You still do not appear as a 501(c)(3) as you state on the IRS charity search.(See http://www.irs.gov/app/pub-78/forwardToSearch... ) I have tried all the possible permutations of your organization's name. If there is an error with the IRS and/ or Federal government, I suggest you address that. Regardless, you will need to fully and cogently address the concerns that people have raised if you wish to have any chance of this coming to fruition.$16 million is a lot of money to ask from hard working citizens, especially in tough economic times. What happens to the funds raised if "The Ranch" doesn't materialize? I have been trying to get an answer from you for over 11 months, and you've bristled every time the question is raised. It is a fair question. The public deserves to see a well thought out plan. Until then, our best wishes are more fitting than our monetary donations.

[Tony Lucas]

THEN OPEN YOUR BOOKS! If you're a legitimate charity and haven't spent the donations, as you claim, you should be willing to share your financial records. Your site promised you would open all records to the public by September 2, 2008 at the latest. So why haven't you? It's been 8 months. I hope you realize that you've lost the trust of trusting Vets like myself (2 tours Iraq). That doesn't mean we don't like kids or the idea, WE DON'T RESPECT LIARS.

[onegirlonecon]

From the beginning I suspected that you and your unemployed homeless mother was a great way to make money in your problem life. Where is your father ? He's not around, hum. I guess just making up a good reason as you have, to ride your horse, drive your donated trailer around the state was once called Gypsies. And Gypsies were known for conning anyone they met, begging for food, money, free horse feed /hay and care etc. but you and your mother just are big con artists ( modern Gypsies !) I am sure that the money will be a great nest egg for you two when (your so called dream) that already exists by another veteran organization does not come true. Gee everyone would love to have a FREE horse facility for themselves with tons of acres. You're just thinking about your own selves. And one day you will pull that money out of the bank and disappear and live the good life on your own horse ranch with your own servants in another State. Either that or you will be in prison for coning the public. Glad that I NEVER gave you any of my money !

[onegirlonecon]

So what has become of this mother and daughter? it is april 2009 and I can't find out anything about them. I looked up all the non-profit charities on line with the IRS and they are not on the list at all. Was this a scam, and have the mother and daughter flown the coop with all the money ? Anyone want to let me know this ?

[Paul Lenora]

Wow. If anyone's interested, and I suspect you probably are if you're following this "nonprofit" as closely as I, you should check out the blogs in response to the MN Daily article.
http://www.mndaily.com/2009/04/28/girl-rides-...
Sounds like Kerry has already been scamming people. Yikes. This lady has serious issues.

[Concerned Resident]

http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/grd/1164726...

Someone went so far to post on Craigslist about this mother! I know first hand that this mother is mentally unstable - and would give food to that horse before her daughter. She needs to be stopped! I emailed Governor Pawlenty and gave him the link to the Minnesota Daily newspaper article....

The Plymouth Magazine is planning to do a story on her too -- so others need to follow and post about their experiences with her!
http://www.metromag.com/0p174a2987/one-girl-t...

[Action is necessary]

Kerry is now trying to trying to get land from the government-for FREE!

On March 20, Madgett-Manrique testified before the Minnesota House Veterans Affairs Division, asking for support of House bill HF1884, sponsored by Rep. Sarah Anderson (R-Plymouth).

The bill asks the Department of Natural Resources to designate 1,000 acres of state-owned vacant land, by Jan. 15, 2010, to be used by military veterans in need of healing.

If you too are troubled by this, please send your concerns to the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee and the Agriculture, Rural Economies and Veterans Affairs Membership. Their email addresses are as follows:

Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee Members:

sen.satveer.chaudhary@senate.m n, [e-mail],
[e-mail], [e-mail],
[e-mail], sen.dennis.frederickson@senate .mn,
sen.bill.ingebrigtsen@senate.m n, [e-mail],
[e-mail],sen. [e-mail],
[e-mail]

Agriculture, Rural Economies, and Veterans Affairs Members:
[e-mail] , [e-mail],
[e-mail], [e-mail],
[e-mail], [e-mail],
[e-mail], [e-mail],
[e-mail], [e-mail],
[e-mail]

[Honest Citizen]

I heard from Rep. Sarah Anderson - and she told me that she pulled her part of the bill that includes land for One Girl One Ride after hearing from me -- FINALLY someone has listened! Thank the Lord!
So -- Kerry Madgett-- you'll have to prove that you have a honest nonprofit before you get anywhere in this state....and so far, I would say you're not making a very good start!

[Scary Kerry]

Whoa. Check out the MN Daily blog. Kerry posted an unbelievable comment full of ridiculous accusations. This woman is off her rocker. I'll continue to pray for her child.

[She is a wacko]

I just saw the daily blog. Kerry Madgett is completely nuts. Wish I knew what she looked like so I could stay away! I hope someone can teach the little girl right and wrong because she sure isn't getting it from home.'Scary Kerry' is right. Sheesh.