Charity Can’t Verify Dayna Morales Donation

The Wounded Warrior Project tells Bridgewater Patch they cannot verify if a donation has yet been made by restaurant server Dayna Morales.

In the days after the 23-year-old server at the Gallop Asian Bistro posted a receipt on a Facebook page showing a message left in the tip line condemning her gay lifestyle, a PayPal account was created for supporters to leave her a "tip."

Morales said that as a former Marine she was "overwhelmed" by the donations and was going to donate the over $2,000 to the Wounded Warrior Project, Bridgewater Patch, however, reports that the charity cannot verify a donation by Morales by checking their donation records by name of by zip code for Bridgewater or Bedminster where lives.

The organization points out that a donation may have been made by third-party or from a different zip code.

The restaurant at the time said it would match her donation and send it to the LGBT foundation of Morales’ choice. Restaurant CEO Jack Yang told New Jersey 101.5 that she set up the PayPal account and he does not know what became of donations. He added that they are holding onto a number of donations sent to the restaurant.

Investigation Nearly Complete

Yang says that their investigation is nearly complete and they will release it "soon." He says Morales remains suspended and off the schedule as she would be in "danger" if she were to work as threats have been made to her at the restaurant.

No matter the outcome of the investigation, Yang says all donations will be given to a charity.

Questions were raised about Morales' story when the couple accused of leaving the message produced a copy of the receipt and a credit card statement showing they were charged $111.55, which included an $18.00 tip on their $93.55 tab. In a television interview the couple, who has remained anonymous, denied leaving any message on the receipt.

Support for Morales and the restaurant on social media turned to anger after the interview was aired and the documents shown. Former co-workers also said Morales is prone to telling stories that are not true. and that she was was dismissed from the Marine Reserve Corp in May because she stopped attending drills while stationed in Newburgh, New York.

The Gallop Asian Bistro said it was conducting an "internal investigation" and posted on its Facebook pages the Morales was off the schedule pending the results.

MORE COVERAGE

• Discredited Waitress' Wounded Warrior Donation Can't Be Verified / Bridgewater Patch