Commander’s project helps needy children and service officers

Commander’s project helps needy children and service officers

American Legion service officers today are helping more than 700,000 veterans and their families, free of charge, file disability claims, benefits applications and other forms of assistance. Meanwhile, military and veteran families with minor children at home, when struck with unexpected costs that leave them unable to pay for basic household needs, receive more than $500,000 in emergency funding a year from The American Legion’s Temporary Financial Assistance program.

Both programs depend on charitable contributions to offer the free assistance.

That’s why American Legion National Commander Charles E. Schmidt has made service officer training and Temporary Financial Assistance for needy families with children at home the focus of his fundraising project this year.

To make a tax-deductible contribution to help National Commander Schmidt reach his goal of $1 million for service officer training and $1 million for Temporary Financial Assistance before the 99th American Legion National Convention in Reno in August, checks can be made payable to American Legion Charities (write “Commander’s Charity Fund” on the memo line) and mailed to:

The American Legion National Headquarters

5745 Lee Road

Indianapolis, IN 46216

Safe and convenient online giving is also available for those who would like to help the commander reach his goal of assisting needy children and service officers. To make an online donation, visit www.legion.org/donate and send your gift using a credit or debit card. It is also possible to make an online donation a recurring donation.

Those who have questions, or would like to make a contribution by phone, can call 1-800-433-3318.

All donations to the Commander’s Charity Fund are processed through American Legion Charities, which has tax-deductible 501(c)(3) status. One-hundred percent of all gifts to the Commander’s Charity Fund goes directly to help service officers and needy families.

"Our post motto is veterans first, so we believe in Commander Schmidt’s project of supporting TFA and service officers,” Newport Beach, Calif., American Post 291 Commander Douglas Nye said recently after his post presented the commander with a check for $5,000 to help. “And we believe in what The American Legion does. His fundraising project hits home because we have a lot of vets … that need our help."