National Commander Dan K. Wiley calls for improving the lives of veterans and servicemembers through donations via The American Legion USA 250 Challenge.
Dear American Legion Family and Friends,
We have 100 days.
100 days to make a difference in the lives of our disabled veterans and military families in need.
100 days until July 4, our nation’s semiquincentennial and the conclusion of The American Legion’s USA 250 Challenge.
I am issuing a call to action in these final 100 days: Let’s hit $150,000 in donations to the Veterans & Children Foundation (VCF) through the USA 250 Challenge. Currently, we have recorded around $60,000 but I know that American Legion Family members can meet or exceed any challenge.
And that goes double for a challenge supporting the VCF, which plays a critical role in multiple ways:
· Funding training for accredited American Legion service officers who are continuously working more than 750,000 benefits claims for disabled veterans and their families, free of charge.
· Delivering grants for military and veteran parents who face unexpected financial hardships that threaten the stability of their homes.
Here is just one example of the good work VCF does:
During the government shutdown last October, U.S. Army veteran and federal technician for the Department of the Army Ernesto Rios Soto faced financial hardship while caring for his minor children and wife, who was unemployed.
“Our family was living paycheck to paycheck, and covering essential expenses such as mortgage, utilities, groceries, and gas became an overwhelming challenge. While I managed to pay some bills for October, the uncertainty of the coming months weighed heavily on us.”
During this difficult time, Rios Soto received an American Legion Temporary Financial Assistance (TFA) grant.
“The TFA grant allowed us to pay our mortgage, relieve some financial stress, and keep a roof over our heads. We are deeply grateful to The American Legion for their generosity and compassion. Their assistance made a significant difference for our family, and we will always appreciate their commitment to veterans and their families.”
There are countless more veterans and servicemembers who need our help. Please help any way you can. Some examples:
· USA 250 participants can fundraise or donate to their own cause. Go to your fundraising page.
· You don’t need to join the USA 250 Challenge to assist. Instead you can donate to a participant or the fundraiser itself. Start here.
Thank you, in advance, for your participation as we change lives and save lives through the VCF!
- Commander