Dear American Legion Family and Friends,
It was a year ago when American Legion members, posts and staff members worked together to collect, process and distribute more than $1 million in Temporary Financial Assistance (TFA) grants for Coast Guard families who were ensnarled in the federal government shutdown.
Fortunately at this time, we don’t have to step in for the federal government to ensure the brave men and women of the Coast Guard are compensated for keeping our nation safe. But there are other urgent needs that we will address now and throughout 2020 through The American Legion Veterans & Children Foundation (V&CF).
Grants from the foundation not only provide vital support for military and veteran parents in unexpected financial crises, they also support American Legion service officers in their tireless efforts to obtain care and due benefits and opportunities for disabled veterans and families.
These service officers provide free expert assistance to more than 700,000 veterans, widows and families as they navigate the complexities of VA benefits and services they have earned through their service.
Sadly, service officer support and TFA grants often go unnoticed in local communities.
But their importance cannot be overstated. The Veterans & Children Foundation improves lives for veterans, servicemembers and their families. It is essential that the foundation remain a resource for our comrades in need in communities throughout the nation.
Whether funds are used to assist Coast Guardsmen who are missing paychecks or a veteran and her spouse who lost their home to a fire or a military family struggling to make ends meet, the Veterans & Children Foundation needs your support.
For the remainder of my term as national commander, I will be focusing on my fundraising goal of $25 million for V&CF. That may sound like a lot of money. Just remember that in 1924-25, Legion members created the original American Legion Endowment Fund by raising $5 million — that’s about $72 million in today’s dollars, adjusted for inflation.
I am confident that with your kind contributions, we will indeed assist veterans, support military families and build a strong foundation for the future.
Bill Oxford
National Commander
American Legion
