ALBANY — The state attorney general’s office is examining allegations that an Army veteran who runs a nonprofit foundation in the Hudson Valley had falsely claimed that homeless veterans had been displaced by migrants at several hotels last week, spurring a national outcry and potentially leading to significant donations for her organization.
The claim was made by Sharon Toney-Finch, CEO of the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation for Preemies Inc., which was formed in 2014 and named after her son, who was born prematurely and died at 7 months of age, according to state officials. Over the last nine years, Toney-Finch’s nonprofit, which opened in Sullivan County but now has headquarters in Orange County, has expanded to offer support services for veterans and homeless individuals.
Several local officials said that Toney-Finch and her organization, known as YIT Foundation, have been active in the community for years supporting veterans and others, including providing toiletry kits, food and sleeping bags to individuals without homes.
The Times Union reported Friday that three unhoused men allege that Toney-Finch recruited them and several other homeless men earlier this week to go on camera and falsely claim they had been displaced from the Newburgh-area hotels last week. The men said that they were offered $100 to take part in the scheme.
As the claims about the veterans being forced out of hotel rooms have fallen apart this week, there also is conflicting information about Toney-Finch’s public assertions that she was awarded a Purple Heart for a combat injury during a mission in Iraq in March 2010.
Records provided by the U.S. Army on Thursday confirm that Toney-Finch, 43, served in the Army from 2006 to 2015 as a specialist, including two one-year deployments to Iraq beginning in March 2007 and October 2009. Her nearly 20 military awards include an Army…
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