The American Legion Veterans & Children Foundation feeds and houses children of military personnel and veterans facing urgent, unexpected hardships. It prevents eviction, keeps the power on and fulfills basic needs to hold a family together through difficult times.
The foundation also covers rigorous training and accreditation costs for American Legion claims experts who provide free representation for veterans and families applying for disability benefits, survivor assistance, GI Bill opportunities and more.
Since its inception in 1925 as the American Legion Endowment Fund, the foundation has assisted millions of veterans, their families and children in need. In 2019, the American Legion Endowment Fund began doing business as the American Legion Veterans & Children Foundation to more clearly state who benefits from tax-deductible donations to the separate non-profit 501c3 element of the nation’s largest veterans organization.
The foundation relies entirely on charitable donations from individuals, like-minded associations and corporate allies.
At any one time, more than 3,000 trained and accredited American Legion service officers are handling the needs of 750,000 or more U.S. military veterans who have become disabled through service to our nation, as well as their families, who may be caregivers, surviving spouses or dependent children.
The American Legion Temporary Financial Assistance program ensures that qualified military and veteran families with minor children at home can pay for food, shelter, clothing or other necessities when sudden, unexpected financial hardships strike. The program distributes between $250,000 and $1.2 million each year in one-time cash grants of up to $1,500 each.