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Hundreds of unpurchased centennial coins are displayed at American Legion Department of California headquarters in Sanger. Numbered coins are $30 and non-numbered $20. (Photo: Steven Robles)
We have an accounting of the 100th anniversary challenge coins. There are 668 numbered coins and 607 non-numbered coins available to purchase at Department headquarters. The coin campaign started with 1,000 numbered and 3,000 non-numbered.
The answer to so many of your questions about what we raised so far can’t be answered because the Ways & Means Commission has never received a breakdown of coins sold and money collected.
The total cost was $17,439.69. We are in the black by my calculations with the coin sales since 2018, but we need help selling the rest of the coins. Please let your district and post members know. The numbered coins are selling for $30 and the non-numbered for $20.
Last year, an appeal was made to all the districts and posts to help support this fundraiser. The posts were asked to donate $100 for their post coin. Districts were asked to donate $200.
There are six district coins that have not been purchased. This in-house fundraiser is helping to fund our California American Legion veterans service officers (VSO).
Need photos for next year’s calendar campaign
The photos need to be at least 5 megapixels. Each photo should not have any markings on it. Please attach the following information on a separate sheet of paper: date, where and what was the event, who is in the photo, and the name of the person who took the photo. Send photos to: cheryl@caLegion.org. Due by April 1.
Amazon Smile program
This program has earned $564 for us since 2014. We earned a half of a penny for every dollar spent at Amazon. This money will be transferred from the
foundation into the VA&R division to fund our VSOs.
Starting now, the foundation is being asked to transfer the quarterly check that is received to the VA&R division.
The Department needs your help to support and promote the Amazon Smile program. This information needs to get down to the post members.
There are quite a few Legionnaires who had their family and friends sign up to help. If you are not a member of the Amazon Smile program, please create an account.
You have to sign in thru Smile.Amazon.com to shop for us to receive the donation. Once you have an Amazon account, log in and:
1.) Click “Accounts & Lists” at the top of browser
2.) Scroll down to “Other programs” section and click “Change your Amazon Smile charity”
3.) Type in “The American Legion CA Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation Foundation”
How’s the Helmets for Heroes campaign working in your area and district?
If you need a helmet or help working the campaign, call your area commission representative or let me know. This is another in-house campaign to support our VSOs. Posts are asked to send in their donations to their districts. Districts will be called up to present the donations at our June convention.
The American Legion Riders and Sons of The American Legion will present their checks at the convention. The reason you are being asked to help promote these campaigns is because the direct mailing campaign donations are dwindling every year.
Last year, the donations were only $261,000. The VSOs budget is around $800,000. We need to raise money to cover the VSO program, which is so vital to our California veterans. It also is carrying out the first pillar of the American Legion: veterans affairs & rehabilitation.
Author: Janice Somers
Janice is chair of the Ways & Means Commission. janicesomers@charter.net
