CWF recipients share success of grant
Joseph Lusignan, the Young Marines deputy director in Washington State, discusses the Young Marines Drug Demand Reduction kits with Legion family members during the Children & Youth Conference, Sept. 21. (Photo by Tom Strattman)

CWF recipients share success of grant

Last weekend, American Legion family members who attended the eighth annual Children & Youth Conference in Indianapolis heard about youth organizations that the Sons of The American Legion and Auxiliary support such as Operation Military Kids, Special Olympics, Children’s Miracle Network and more.

Attendees also heard presentations from 2014 Child Welfare Foundation (CWF) grant recipients Joe Foss Institute and Young Marines on how they’re supporting America’s youth and ways Legionnaires can get involved with their respective programs.

The Joe Foss Institute was awarded a $10,000 CWF grant for its program, “Veterans Inspiring Patriotism,” which provides classrooms with educational and patriotic materials. Founded in 2001 by the late World War II Marine and Medal of Honor recipient Gen. Joe Foss, the institute’s goal is to have veterans nationwide teach young people (kindergarten through 12th grade) in the classroom about patriotism, public service, integrity and appreciation for America's military.

With the CWF grant, the Joe Foss Institute was able to provide 250 classrooms nationwide with free materials to display each time a veteran came in to speak. Materials included a 2-by-3 U.S. flag, copies of the U.S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence and the Bill of Rights, and a bio of Joe Foss. When a veteran participates in the Veterans Inspiring Patriotism Program, he or she speaks to a classroom for about 45 minutes on who Joe Foss was, their personal military service and what it means to be patriotic.

In the past year, veterans volunteering with the Joe Foss Institute have been in 776 classrooms nationwide, reaching 143,000 students.

To volunteer with the Joe Foss Institute, visit: www.joefossinstitute.org/volunteer

Young Marines was awarded a $90,000 CWF grant to help purchase and disseminate anti-drug literature and promotion in its Drug Demand Reduction kit to the more than 300 Young Marine units in the nation.

Young Marines is a nonprofit youth education program for boys and girls ages eight through completion of high school that teaches the values of leadership, self-discipline and teamwork. The objective is to teach young people to live a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.

Joseph Lusignan, the Young Marines deputy director in Washington State and the drug demand resource officer, told Children & Youth Conference attendees that in his 22 years as a police officer, “I never arrested anyone for drug abuse on methamphetamines or heroine or ecstasy who didn’t start with the gateway drugs. With the Drug Demand Reduction kits, we are closing the gate on drugs because we figured if we close that gate, they’ll never be interested in going to the harder stuff.”

Each Drug Demand Reduction kit features: a brochure that describes the influences of the five gateway drugs (tobacco, alcohol, inhalant abuse, marijuana and prescription and over the counter medication); a USB drive in the shape of a key that has info about the gateway drugs; stickers shaped in a stop sign, slap bracelets and pencils that all say, “Close the gate on drugs”; deck of cards that feature question and answers that relate to drugs; and pledge cards that Young Marines sign stating they will be drug free and will educate and encourages others to do the same.

“Every Young Marine unit is now being taught the same thing with the kit. And we are up for an award with the White House because we’ve taken your generosity and made it into something concrete,” Lusignan said.

To get involved with Young Marines by volunteering, donating or starting a unit, visit: www.youngmarines.com/getinvolved

Additionally, Dough Lippert, development director for Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA), spoke to attendees about the organization's plans for the upcoming year.

“We are so grateful for what you do. We could not do what we do without your help,” Lippert said. “We are planning our 2015 schedule and would like to try to go to department meetings where we can have a COTA display and hope to speak with the Legion, Auxiliary and Sons of The American Legion members and bring a family in that you have helped and tell their story.”

If a department is interested in having COTA come speak at its mid-winter conference or at a meeting, email: doug@cota.org

COTA’s mission is to provide fundraising assistance to children and young adults in need of a life-saving transplant. COTA has received more than $600,000 over the years from CWF grants and donations from the Legion family.