Giving Tuesday a record day for The American Legion

Giving Tuesday a record day for The American Legion

In this season of giving, American Legion Family members and friends contributed a record donation during the Giving Tuesday campaign. As of Thursday morning, the total for the one-day event was $118,500 and expected to grow as donations were still being tabulated.

Giving Tuesday coincided with the kickoff announcement of the new American Legion alliance with the Chip Ganassi IndyCar team.

“The kindness of American Legion Family donors was on full display during this year’s Giving Tuesday,” American Legion National Commander James “Bill” Oxford said. “I am truly grateful for their generosity, especially at this time of uncertainty with the pandemic continuing. It speaks volumes of those who gave to help others, rather in wallowing in vitriol on Facebook pages.”

America’s veterans and their families are among the hardest hit by the coronavirus.

The bulk of the donations went to support The American Legion’s Veterans & Children Foundation (V&CF). The foundation supports accredited American Legion service officers who provide free advice, consultation and other services to veterans seeking assistance with their benefits claims. Thanks to the work of these service officers, veterans have been awarded back compensation in the tens of thousands of dollars, or even greater, and other benefits they may not have otherwise received.

Additionally, the foundation provides Temporary Financial Assistance (TFA) grants to current active duty or American Legion members with dependent children, to help meet the cost of shelter, food, utilities and health expenses. The need for these grants is growing due to the coronavirus crisis.

“I’d like to extend my personal gratitude to every donor,” Oxford said. “It is because of their support that we can continue our most important responsibility — caring for our nation’s heroes.”