Your Gifts at Work

Chartered as a charitable veterans service organization in 1919 by an act of the U. S. Congress, The American Legion has been helping our veterans, our active duty personnel, and their families for over 90 years. The American Legion believes in strong families, and therefore focuses many of its programs on helping families and children. Listed below are just a few of the many programs operated by The American Legion:

• Operation Comfort Warriors - provides needed personal items that help our wounded service members recover from their injuries.
• The American Legion, through its more than 2,800 service officers nationwide, helps veterans obtain the benefits they need from the Veterans Administration.
• The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund - provides academic scholarships for children whose parents lost their lives serving in the U. S. Armed Forces on or after 9/11/2001.
• The American Legion Temporary Financial Assistance Grants - provides funds to families in need of financial assistance in order to provide for and maintain a stable home for their minor children.
  • Over $850,000 in grants were given in 2012 to help veterans pay their rent, their mortgage payment, their utility bills, or buy groceries.
  • The demand for these grants is increasing.
• The American Legion National Emergency Fund - provides relief funds for veterans who have suffered devastating financial effects from natural disaster.
• The American Legion Child Welfare Foundation - provides grants to educate the public about the needs of children.
• American Legion Americanism - sponsors youth programs such as:
  • American Legion Baseball.
  • Boys Nation and Boys State - teaches how government works (The American Legion Auxiliary sponsors Girls State).
  • The National High School Oratorical Competition.
  • Junior Law Cadet.
  • American Legion Junior Shooting Sports.
  • Eagle Scout of the Year Scholarship.
  • The Samsung American Legion Scholarship.
  • And many more.

The need for assistance from The American Legion has been increasing dramatically. Unemployment among our veterans is much higher than the national average. To meet the demand, The American Legion organized and sponsored 200 job fairs for veterans in 2012. As a result of these job fairs, over 7,000 veterans found employment. The American Legion hosts educational seminars to teach veterans how to write resumes and interview for jobs. The American Legion provides seminars for veterans who want to start their own businesses. There is also a need for educational programs to teach the skills needed to compete for twenty-first century jobs.

The demand for each of these service programs is increasing. We now need your help to continue providing, and expanding, these valuable services. Therefore, I respectfully request that you consider allocating a percentage of your charitable giving to The American Legion. Because our administration costs are covered by other revenue sources, like annual dues from our members; 100% of every dollar donated to The American Legion is used for our mission.

Please feel free to contact me at (317) 860-3006, or mpirnat@legion.org.

Michael Pirnat
Deputy Director, Fundraising Division

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