Legion provides over $1.1 million in grants to veteran families

Legion provides over $1.1 million in grants to veteran families

In January 2019, The American Legion’s Temporary Financial Assistance (TFA) program broke a single-month record in grant distribution – $1,030,163. Of the grants distributed, $1,000,500 assisted children of active duty Coast Guard servicemembers who were financially affected by the federal government shutdown.

The government shutdown created a critical need of monetary assistance for active-duty U.S. Coast Guardsmen. And The American Legion answered their call for help by providing immediate financial support through the TFA program.

But the financial need for veterans and their families across the country was still there long after the government reopened.

Subject to an audit, so far 2019 numbers for TFA show that $1,143,000 was provided in cash grants that assisted more than 3,000 children of nearly 1,700 veteran families. And these grants are non-repayable.

The American Legion distributes one-time grants of up to $1,500 to eligible active-duty military and American Legion members in need. Grantees must have minor children in the home and the funds are designed to help meet the cost of shelter, food, utilities and health expenses so that children have a stable environment during a time of hardship.

The American Legion Temporary Financial Assistance program is funded through the generosity of donations made by American Legion members and the public to The American Legion Veterans & Children Foundation.

National Commander Bill Oxford has made the Veterans & Children Foundation his primary fundraiser to help the foundation reach the goal of $25 million.

Donations to The American Legion Veterans & Children Foundation are tax deductible and can be made online at legion.org/donate.