National commander's fundraising goal easily met
American Legon Auxiliary National Vice President Sharon Conatser, National Commander Michael D. Helm and Auxiliary National President Janet Jeffords share a moment during Day 2 of the Spring Meetings. (Photo by Lucas Carter)

National commander's fundraising goal easily met

At the beginning of his year as national commander of The American Legion, Michael D. Helm issued a challenge to The American Legion Family: raise a combined $4 million this year for the Legion’s various charities. Legionnaires, American Legion Auxiliary members and Sons of The American Legion answered the challenge – in a resounding fashion.

Donations made during the annual Spring Meetings in Indianapolis pushed Helm’s fundraising campaign above the $4 million mark. The Sons helped the push with a donation of more than $128,000 to the Child Welfare Foundation. During the meetings, more than $34,000 was collected for Operation Comfort Warriors and more than $21,000 for the National Emergency Fund.

Donations this year will also go to fund the Legacy Scholarship Fund, Endowment Fund and Soldier’s Wish, as well as the Auxiliary’s Emergency Fund, Spirit of Youth Scholarship Fund, Children of Warriors National Presidents' Scholarship and American Legion Auxiliary Foundation.

“I think setting the goal and opening all the charities to the entire American Legion Family put everybody in that spirit-of-giving mode and maybe (created) a little bit of competition between each other,” Helm said. “Not only was it coming together as a family to raise money for American Legion charities, but also an individual, personal competition between departments or posts, Auxiliary units, (SAL) squadrons and (Legion Rider) chapters.”

Helm said he was proud not only of the Legion Family’s generosity, but also of its work ethic. “As I’ve traveled all across the United States, those posts, units, squadrons and chapters that are doing things for their communities and for the veterans in their communities – that’s what makes this organization great,” he said.

On Day 2 of the National Executive Committee meeting, National Legislative Commission Chairman Brett Reistad urged a focused effort on protecting the budgets of the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.

“We need to redouble our efforts during these tight economic times,” he said. “Our nation’s military budget and the budget for treating our wounded veterans must not be subject to … sequestration. We need to do what is right. We will need the help of every member of The American Legion to win this fight in the Senate.”

Reistad said the organization has been busy on Capitol Hill. “The American Legion continues to be an active and vocal participant in our nation’s legislature this year,” he said. “Already this year, The American Legion has provided testimony for almost 20 congressional hearings and will do so for nearly half a dozen more over the next two weeks.”

Helm praised the National Executive Committee for its leadership and urged its members to spread the word about what was discussed during the meetings.

“Make sure you take (information) from here home to your departments,” he said. “Don’t just go home and put your red hat away and wait to come back here again. It’s very important that you take this organization back to your department. And if you do, we’re going to continue to be a very successful organization.”