Veterans Of Foreign Wars Of The United States

ASSISTING VETERANS, MILITARY PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILIES, ADVOCACY FOR VETERANS AND ACTIVE-DUTY PERSONNEL, HISTORICAL EDUCATION AND COMMEMORATION, PROMOTING PATRIOTISM, YOUTH ACTIVITIES AND COMMUNITY SERVICE.

VETERANS SERVICE ACTIVITIES - THE VFW MISSION INCLUDES THE MANDATE TO PRESERVE AND STRENGTHEN COMRADESHIP AMONG VETERANS AND TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO THEM, THEIR WIDOWS AND ORPHANS. TO MEET THIS OBLIGATION, THE VFW DELIVERS A BROAD RANGE OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES TO VETERANS THROUGH A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION STRUCTURE THAT EXTENDS TO POSTS IN COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. THIS INCLUDES GRANTS OF $10,156,240 TO SUPPORT VFW AND VETERAN SERVICE ACTIVITIES ALL OVER THE WORLD. AT THE STATE LEVEL, THE DEPARTMENT SERVICE OFFICER PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN ASSISTING VETERANS IN DEALING WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS AND OTHER AGENCIES. THESE OFFICERS ARE FORMALLY TRAINED AND ACCREDITED TO REPRESENT BOTH MEMBER AND NON-MEMBER VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS OR SURVIVORS IN APPLYING FOR AND OBTAINING DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS (VA) BENEFITS. THE VFW NATIONAL VETERANS SERVICE STAFF PROVIDES ADDITIONAL SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE SUCH AS REPRESENTATION AT THE VA BOARD OF VETERANS APPEALS AND AT THE PRE-DISCHARGE LOCATIONS ON MAJOR MILITARY INSTALLATIONS TO ASSIST SOON-TO-BE DISCHARGED ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY IN FILING VA DISABILITY CLAIMS. THIS STRUCTURE ENSURES THAT NO VETERAN, FAMILY MEMBER, OR SURVIVOR NEEDS TO INTERACT WITH THE AGENCIES ADMINISTERING VETERAN'S PROGRAMS WITHOUT EXPERT REPRESENTATION. IN ADDITION, PROFESSIONALLY TRAINED, VA ACCREDITED VFW REPRESENTATIVES ADVOCATE DIRECTLY WITH GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES TO RESOLVE ISSUES IMPACTING VETERANS. THE VFW PROVIDED TRAINING TO 475 SERVICE OFFICERS AT BASIC, ADVANCED, AND PROFICIENCY TRAINING CONFERENCES. THIS TRAINING ENSURES VFW SERVICE OFFICERS REMAIN PROFICIENT IN UNDERSTANDING VA ADMINISTERED VETERANS BENEFIT PROGRAMS AND POLICIES TO PROVIDE QUALITY REPRESENTATION TO THEIR CLIENTS, WHO OFTEN MAINTAIN RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE VFW AS THEIR VA REPRESENTATION FOR YEARS AFTER FILING AN INITIAL CLAIM. FOR THE 2023 FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS REPORTED NEARLY 570,000 VETERANS AND ELIGIBLE DEPENDENTS REPRESENTED BY VFW SERVICE OFFICERS RECEIVED MORE THAN $13 BILLION IN EARNED BENEFITS. ADDITIONALLY, THE VFW PROVIDED OVER $1.4 MILLION IN HELP-A-HERO SCHOLARSHIPS TO 357 SERVICE MEMBERS AND VETERANS TO HELP THEM COMPLETE EDUCATIONAL GOALS. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES UP TO $5,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO VETERANS OR CURRENT MILITARY PERSONNEL WITH A RANK OF E-5 OR BELOW.VFW NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE SERVICE SERVES VETERANS, SERVICE MEMBERS, AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH PROTECTION AND ENHANCEMENT OF FEDERAL BENEFITS. THIS SERVICE ENSURES THE VIEWS OF VETERANS ARE PRESENTED TO LEGISLATORS AND PROVIDES RECOMMENDATIONS CONCERNING PROPOSED LEGISLATION. THE MEMBERSHIP IS KEPT INFORMED OF THESE ACTIVITIES THROUGH THE VFW MAGAZINE, THE VFW ACTION CORPS AND OTHER PRINT AND DIGITAL MATERIAL. VFW REGULARLY APPEALS TO LAWMAKERS AND DEFENSE LEADERSHIP TO ENSURE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF TRAINING, EQUIPMENT AND COMPENSATION FOR AMERICA'S SOLDIERS, AIRMEN, MARINES AND COAST GUARD PERSONNEL. THE VFW TESTIFIES BEFORE CONGRESS OVER 20 TIMES EVERY YEAR ON IMPORTANT ISSUES IMPACTING VETERANS.

FRATERNAL ACTIVITIES AND MEMBER SERVICES - FRATERNAL ACTIVITIES AND MEMBER SERVICES ARE VITAL SUPPORT COMPONENTS TO THE VFW NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS AS IT WORKS TO ACCOMPLISH THE VFW MISSION AT STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS. THIS INCLUDES GRANTS OF $770,066 TO SUPPORT THESE ACTIVITIES AND TO PROVIDE TRAINING ON LEADERSHIP AND ADMINISTRATION WITH THE INFORMATION AND INCENTIVES NEEDED TO MOBILIZE VOLUNTEER EFFORTS IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD. THESE EFFORTS INCLUDE PATRIOTIC ACTIVITIES, COMMUNITY PROJECTS, YOUTH ACTIVITIES AND SUPPORT OF ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL, GUARD AND RESERVES. THE VFW NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS ALSO PROVIDES DUES PROCESSING SERVICES, FUNDRAISING SERVICES, AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT TO ALLOW THE VFW STATE AND LOCAL LEVELS TO FOCUS THEIR RESOURCES ON VETERAN SERVICE AND COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES.VFW PROVIDES A MAGAZINE AND EMBLEMATIC SUPPLIES TO MEMBERS AND VETERANS TO PROMOTE HISTORICAL EDUCATION, AND COMMEMORATION AND PROMOTION OF PATRIOTIC SUPPORT AND ACTIVITIES. THE VFW MAGAZINE ENSURES MEMBERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC REMAIN APPRISED OF LEGISLATIVE AND ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES CONCERNING VETERANS, HEALTH PROBLEMS CONFRONTING VETERANS, HISTORICAL AND COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES, SUPPORT PROVIDED BY MEMBERS IN SUPPORT OF VFW-SPONSORED PROGRAMS IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND OTHER INFORMATION TO ENCOURAGE MEMBERS TO TAKE ACTION.

COMMUNITY SERVICE AND PUBLIC AWARENESS - COMMUNITY SERVICE IS A MAJOR PRIORITY OF THE VFW. THIS INCLUDES GRANTS OF $799,471 TO SUPPORT THESE ACTIVITIES AROUND THE WORLD. THE VFW'S MISSION INCLUDES MAINTAINING TRUE ALLEGIANCE TO THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND FIDELITY TO ITS CONSTITUTION AND LAWS, FOSTERING TRUE PATRIOTISM AND LOVE OF COUNTRY, AND MAINTAINING AND EXTENDING THE INSTITUTIONS OF AMERICAN FREEDOM. TO FULFILL THESE OBJECTIVES, THE VFW HAS A COMPREHENSIVE SET OF EDUCATIONAL AND INFORMATIONAL PROGRAMS, MATERIALS, AND ACTIVITIES THAT REACH OUT TO EVERY AMERICAN VIRTUALLY EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR. THE MAJOR ELEMENTS OF VFW COMMUNITY SERVICE INCLUDE COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES, CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION, SAFETY PROGRAMS, AND YOUTH ACTIVITIES. COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ASSISTANCE IN CONDUCTING BLOOD DRIVES, RECYCLING PROGRAMS, AND NEIGHBORHOOD AND HIGHWAY BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS; AID TO SENIOR CITIZENS, VOLUNTEERING IN HOSPITALS AND NURSING HOMES, AND ASSISTING FAMILIES IN TIMES OF PERSONAL TRAGEDY OR ILLNESS; AND ASSISTANCE TO CHURCHES AND SCHOOLS THROUGH VOLUNTEERING AND SPEAKER PROGRAMS. CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION, MATERIALS, AND ACTIVITIES ARE GEARED TO REMIND, EDUCATE, AND INFORM CITIZENS OF THEIR COUNTRY'S TRADITIONS, FREEDOMS, AND THE NEED TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THEM. KEY ELEMENTS OF CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION INCLUDE PUBLICATIONS AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION HONORING THE FLAG, PROPER FLAG DISPLAY, THE FLAG HISTORY AND THE FLAG CODE AS WELL AS PERIODIC DISTRIBUTION OF FREE FLAGS. SUPPORT OF CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS THROUGH DISTRIBUTION OF CITIZENSHIP EDUCATION MATERIALS AND SCHOOL FOLDERS CONTAINING COPIES OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, THE CONSTITUTION, AND OTHER IMPORTANT HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS; PUBLICATION AND DISSEMINATION OF INFORMATION CONCERNING OFFICIAL PATRIOTIC HOLIDAYS SUCH AS MEMORIAL DAY, V-J DAY, VETERANS DAY, AND D-DAY; CELEBRATION OF PATRIOTIC HOLIDAYS THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN PARADES, PRESENTATIONS AND ASSEMBLIES; DISTRIBUTION OF PATRIOTIC LITERATURE AND EMBLEMATIC MATERIALS TO INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS AND SCHOOLS; AND ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT "GET OUT THE VOTE" CAMPAIGNS AND VETERANS IN THE CLASSROOM. THE SAFETY MATERIALS AND ACTIVITIES IN THE OVERALL COMMUNITY SERVICE CATEGORY INCLUDE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY, DRUG AWARENESS, RECREATIONAL SAFETY AND HOME AND FIRE SAFETY. THE VFW MADE GRANTS OF $606,363 TO ASSIST VFW POSTS AND AUXILIARIES WITH OUTREACH PROJECTS IN THEIR RESPECTIVE COMMUNITIES. FOR YOUTH ACTIVITIES, THE VFW SUPPORTS AMERICA'S YOUTH ATHLETIC PROGRAMS BY ENCOURAGING LOCAL POSTS TO SPONSOR TEAMS AND PROVIDE LEADERSHIP AND MENTORING. VFW ENCOURAGES AMERICA'S YOUTH TO BE GOOD CITIZENS BY PROVIDING CITIZENSHIP EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND HONORING OUTSTANDING COMMUNITY SERVICE BY YOUNG PEOPLE FOLLOWING THE MEDAL OF HONOR CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM OF INSTRUCTION. VFW ENCOURAGES ACADEMIC PROGRESS AND ACHIEVEMENT THROUGH A NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AND ANOTHER FOR JUNIOR HIGH STUDENTS. PARTICIPATING STUDENTS MAY RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LEVEL. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE VFW NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS PROVIDED OVER $193,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS FOR STUDENTS.