The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund
competes again for $250K Pepsi Refresh Everything grant
Votes Needed!
INDIANAPOLIS (June 2, 2010) – For the second consecutive month, The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund is competing for a $250,000 grant to be awarded by the Pepsi Beverage Company as part of its Refresh Everything Project.
While Pepsi did not announce just where the Legacy Scholarship Fund finished in its May voting competition, the top two charities win the grants and the remaining top 100 are “rolled over” to participate in the following month’s competition. During the evening of May 31, The Legacy Scholarship was ranked 49th of 1,341 participating charities.
The American Legion’s Operation Comfort Warriors finished in first place during February’s voting and has already been awarded the top grant of $250,000.
“While I am disappointed that The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund did not win a grant, I am not surprised that we apparently finished in the top tier,” said The American Legion National Commander Clarence E. Hill. “If The American Legion family and all of our friends support this great cause, we can do better in June. Operation Comfort Warriors finished first in February. This is not about the same organization winning twice. It’s about assisting an entirely different group of deserving people, those whose parents paid the ultimate price and sacrificed their lives while serving in our military during the War on Terrorism. The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund ensures that the children of these fallen heroes will be able to attend college and not have to worry about the rising cost of higher education. We can support the children of these heroes simply by voting every day throughout the month of June. The process will cost you nothing, but the reward can truly make a difference.”
Visitors can cast their votes at www.refresheverything.com/theamericanlegionlegacyscholarship or by clicking on the “Vote Daily” Pepsi panel at www.legion.org .
Hill also recommended that Legionnaires, Legion family members, friends and supporters of The American Legion spread the message to vote for The American Legion Legacy Scholarship Fund.
“Individual voting alone will not win this competition,” Hill said. “We need people to post it on their web sites, Facebook and Twitter accounts. They should use all social media methods at their disposal. Operation Comfort Warriors was able to win because American Legion posts, Auxiliary units, Sons of the American Legion squadrons and American Legion Riders chapters all came together and worked toward a common goal. Spreading the word in newsletters and the mainstream media can also help us replicate our earlier success.”
With a current membership of 2.5-million wartime veterans, The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and youth programs. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 14,000 posts across the nation.
The Wheatland Unit 432 was recognized at the 90thNational Convention at Louisville on the big screen television. All because they call BINGO. Actually it was due to the outcome of Wednesday’s midnight bingos. With the proceeds from these midnight number calling, the Unit has been able to help area students strive for higher education.
About 20 years ago, the bingo started to show a profit. Like very other Auxiliary Unit, they wondered how to use this money. They knew they wanted to help the community but how can they die this? Because she was unable to help her grandchildren will college expenses, the treasurer, Shirley Rainer suggested that they start a scholarship fund.
The first year of the scholarship program two students received $250. The following year the Unit was able to assist two more students with $500. The award is granted to an American Legion Auxiliary Unit member, a husband, a child, grandchild or step-children with a GPA of at least 3.0. All applicants need to be in good standing with 24 months of membership to the Unit and have their current dues paid 30 days before applying.
Wheatland’s scholarship chairman is Nancy Thompson. During last years’ financial aid period, they granted scholarships in the amount of $1200 to 23 applicants. Over the past tens years, numerous students have been assisted with college expenses with the total amount being $397, 000. One wonders if Mrs. Shirley Rainer ever could have conceived how many people and how many dollars her suggestion would generate.