Through support of Special Olympics, Fisher House and more, Florida’s Squadron 347 is serving its community.
Supporting Special Olympics has long been a part of what the Legion Family does at Post 347 in Lady Lake, Fla.
But this spring, members of Squadron 347 took the opportunity to do more than just hand over a check.
“I had never actually volunteered for an actual event; you know, we raise money all the time and we present the check, and that’s fine, but we never actually got involved in the event,” Squadron 347 Commander Danny Roe said.
When Denise Breneman, director of civic partnerships and events for the Special Olympics of Florida, mentioned the program would need help at the Special Olympics Equestrian and Corn Hole events in Ocala, Fla., in March, Roe and other SAL members saw an opportunity to give back in a different way.
“We thought, ‘Well, might try to get some people together to do that.’ We probably took seven or eight people up there. It was very worth the time, just to see these kids actually have something and actually earn trophies. … It was a lot of fun,” Roe said.
The squadron also donated $8,000 this spring to Florida Special Olympics, bringing the total over the last five years to over $28,000 in donations to the program.
“We’ve been supporting Special Olympics for as long as I’ve been here,” Roe said. “I think a lot of the guys in the past have really been supportive of Special OIympics and their events. They used to do a bowling thing every year and a lot of Legion people would volunteer for that. … They’ve always been one of the big ones we try to support every year. In this case, we had a dance and the profits from that, and we had a fireworks display that we do, and we have a local restaurant that will allow us to sell wristbands—they have a beach on a lake, then they have a fireworks display out there, and we sell wristbands and they give us half the money of that. And then we donate that back.”
Special Olympics isn’t the only benefactor of Squadron 347’s efforts, as they’ve raised money for the Fisher House in Gainesville, Fla. And on May 17, the squadron will host a golf tournament with the goal of raising $25,000 for American Legion children and youth programs in the state.
“Obviously it makes you feel good that you’re out there supporting the community. … I didn’t have the honor of serving (in the military), I’m here because of my father, and so the Sons allows me to give back and contribute in a different way. My father contributed his time in service. We contribute time in supporting the community,” Roe said.
- Sons