Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States

1. Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States

2. Who Are We… • VFW is the oldest, major veterans organization, founded in 1899. • The VFW, with its Auxiliaries, includes 2.7 million members in approximately 9,000 Posts worldwide. • More than Eight U.S. Presidents - including John F. Kennedy and Teddy Roosevelt - belonged to the VFW. • VFW Mission: "Honor the dead by helping the living” • A non-profit veterans organization chartered by Congress.

3. Historically The VFW • Fought for military pensions and compensation/training for disabled veterans after WWI. • Promoted and gained the WWI Bonus. • Planned establishment of the Veterans Administration in 1930. • Supported creation of the GI Bill of Rights after WWII. • Led development of the national cemetery system. • Lobbied for creation of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee in 1970. • Fought for compensation for Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange. • Encouraged elevation of the Veterans Administration to the President's cabinet. • Protected and enhanced the VA budget. • Preserved exclusivity of the VA hospital system for veterans. • Gained presumptive health care for Gulf War Syndrome victims. • Provided nearly $900,000 in national disaster relief since 1964. • Donated $42 million for cancer research and treatment over the past 43 years. • Raised $500,000 to provide 300,000 care packages to Desert Storm troops. • Contributed $607,000 to the Korean War Veterans Memorial. • Contributed over $200,000 to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. • Contributed more than $100,000 to the Vietnam Women's Memorial Project

4. VFW Purpose…What do we do? • To preserve and strengthen comradeship among its members • To assist worthy comrades • To perpetuate the memory and history of our dead, and to assist their widows and orphans • The purpose of this corporation shall be fraternal, patriotic, historical, charitable, and educational: • To maintain true allegiance to the government of the United States of America, and fidelity to its Constitution and laws • To foster true patriotism • To maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom, and to preserve and defend the United States from all her enemies, whomsoever. To assist worthy comrades • To perpetuate the memory and history of our dead, and to assist their widows and orphan • To maintain true allegiance to the government of the United States of America, and fidelity to its Constitution and laws • To foster true patriotism • To maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom, and to preserve and defend the United States from all her enemies, whomsoever.

5. Benefits of VFWMembership

6. No Cost $1000/$1500 Personal Accident Protection Plan Life & Accident Plans Medicare Supplement Plans Cancer Plans Long Term Care Annuity Plans Wellness Plans Vehicle Insurance Pet Insurance Post Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance Funeral and Cremation Plans VFW Personal & Business Credit Card Plans VFW Car Rental Discounts from Hertz, Alamo, & Avis VFW Hotel/Motel Discount Program Hickory Farms Discount Home Depot Supply Pentagon Federal Credit Union VFW Online (Internet Access) A Subscription to the VFW Magazine Access to the VFW Honor Roll Lifelong Memories Program The VFW National Home A Nationwide Network of fully trained and Certified Veterans Service Officers Legislative Services Community Activities Youth Development Programs VFW Supply Catalog Ladies Auxiliary VFW BenefitsNational

7. ANNUALLY • Provide more than $2.7 million in scholarships, awards and other incentives through the Voice of Democracy Program. • More than 15,750 service officers handle over 235,000 claims resulting in nearly $900 million in compensation. • Provide more than 8 million hours of volunteer service in local communities valued at more than $97 million

8. VFW National Home for Children • Our Mission: The Veterans of Foreign Wars National Home for Children Will Provide Children, Youth and Families of Members of the VFW and Ladies Auxiliary Opportunities for Growth and Development in a Nurturing Community, and by Doing So, Will Serve As a Living Memorial to All Veterans. • The National Home Is a Multi-faceted Facility Created to Care for the Developmental, Social and Spiritual Needs of the Children and Families of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Services Are Also Available for Children of Active Duty Military Personnel. Our Facility Is Not an Orphanage, but a Neighborhood of Custom Homes, Service Buildings and Recreational Land Administered by a Highly Devoted Staff and Fully Integrated Into Its Surrounding Community. • The Veterans of Foreign Wars Established the National Home in 1925 to Care for the Children and Families of Our Nation’s Veterans. Located on 629 Acres in Eaton Rapids, Michigan, the National Home Stands Today As a Tribute to the VFW and Ladies Auxiliary Members Who Help Support the Facility and the Families Who Call the National Home Their Home

9. Randy CollinsVFW Department Service Officer One Veterans Plaza 701 Clay Street Waco, TX 76799 Phone: 254 299-9959 FAX: 254 299-9970 E-Mail: VSORcoll@vba.va.gov Forrest Hillgartner VFW Department Service Officer 6900 Almeda Road Houston, Texas 77030-4200 Phone: (713) 794-3669 FAX: (713) 795-0906 E-Mail: forrest.hillgartner@vba.va.gov Service Officers at VA Service OfficesMore than 15,750 service officers handle over 235,000 claims resulting in nearly $900 million in compensation.TEXAS

10. Operation Uplink The VFW program provides free prepaid phone cards to deployed troops and hospitalized veterans. “Our troops are sacrificing so much to serve this nation. Many of them will be deployed for a year or more,” “The least we can do is ensure they can keep in touch with their family and friends.” Since its inception in 1996, Operation Uplink, which is organized by the VFW and Ladies Auxiliary VFW, has provided more than 7,000,000 phone cards. The program has been personally noted by President George W. Bush for its unique humanitarian assistance. If you’d like to help or learn more, visit www.operationuplink.org or call (800) 479-5228. Or e-mail uplink@vfw.org.

11. TEXAS MAP PROGRAM SINCE IT’S INCEPTION IN 2003, THE DEPARTMENT OF TEXAS, VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS MILITARY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HAS PROVIDED OVER $2,542,000 IN: • FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE • IN KIND DONATIONS • VOLUNTEER HOURS • GREETED OVER 100,000 SOLDIERS DEPLOYING TO, OR RETURNING FROM, COMBAT ZONES AT THE DFW AIRPORT GATEWAY

12. MAP MISSION TO SUPPORT OUR MILITARY AND THEIR FAMILIES, TO INCLUDE ALL MEMBERS OF THE ACTIVE DUTY, GUARD AND RESERVE COMPONENTS.

13. KEY AREAS OF MAP • FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH THE UNMET NEEDS PROGRAM • MATCHING FUNDS GRANT (TO HELP DEFRAY THE COSTS OF UNIT ACTIVITIES TO ICLUDE PARTIES, MEETINGS, ETC) • VETJOBS.COM • ADOPT-A-UNIT PROGRAM

14. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE • FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR PROBLEMS CAUSED BY DEPLOYMENTS • SOLDIERS MUST BE ON AD STATUS SERVING IN THEIR UNITS THEATER OF OPERATION • FAMILY MEMBERS MUST BE LIVING WITH SPOUSE OR IN RESIDENCE OF SPOUSE • LEAD TIME FROM REQUEST TO APPROVAL AND ISSUANCE OF FUNDS VARIES

15. FINANCIAL GRANTS • SITUATION IS DUE TO AN IMMEDIATE NEED BROUGHT ABOUT BY AN EVENT OR EVENTS BEYOND THE CONTROL OF THE INDIVIDUAL OR QUALIFIED FAMILY MEMBER AND NOT DUE TO MISMANAGEMENT OF FAMILY INCOME AND/OR EXTRAVAGANT EXPENDITURES

16. THE VFW CAN HELP • PROVIDE A READY POOL OF VOLUNTEERS • MEETING SPACE AT LOCAL POSTS • REFERRALS TO FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES (LAND BOARD, TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSION, VA) • VFW SERVICE OFFICERS TO HELP WITH VA CLAIMS (DISABILITY, ETC) • OPERATION UPLINK CARDS

17. VFW BenefitsPost Level • Veterans Service • Community Service • Legislative Action • Youth Development