A Grand Junction nonprofit, the Veterans Art Center, has been left devastated after losing $20,000 in a roofing scam allegedly orchestrated by Kurtis Smith of Redeemed Roofing LLC.
The center, which offers art therapy to veterans and trauma survivors, had raised the funds through donations, grants, and fundraisers to pay for urgent roof repairs.
“We finally had our $20,000 to make the deposit, and it was like, deliriously, we’re finally going to get our roof,” said Wendy Hoffman, founder and president of the center.
However, shortly after handing over the checks, Smith reportedly vanished. The checks were cashed, but all attempts to reach him failed. Emails bounced back, the company website disappeared, and phone calls went unanswered.
“The email bounced with no domain, and the domain was his company name, Redeemed Roofing,” Hoffman explained. “I tried to call, and it just said, ‘Your call is being transferred,’ but it never connected.”
Now, the Veterans Art Center faces a leaking roof and must restart its fundraising efforts from scratch.
Hoffman revealed that at least a dozen other organizations across western Colorado—from Glenwood Springs to Telluride—have also reported losses to the same contractor.
A theft report has been filed with the Grand Junction Police Department, and the financial crimes unit is investigating. Police have not yet filed any criminal charges against Smith.
Meanwhile, another roofing company has stepped in to patch critical leaks ahead of winter and is working on offering a discounted rate to help offset the nonprofit’s financial loss.
Despite this setback, the Veterans Art Center remains hopeful and continues to raise funds, expressing gratitude for the ongoing community support.
