VFW Foundation

The Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation is designed to support programs and services that secure, manage and distribute resources to improve the lives of veterans, military service personnel and their families.

Why do we exist?

      The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Foundation exists solely to support programs and services that secure, manage and distribute resources to improve the lives of veterans, military service personnel and their families.

  Our “Return the Favor” Campaign, meets a variety of unique needs such as:

• Aids troops and their families with a one-time grant to pay for rent, mortgage, utilities, vehicle repair, medical expenses and food/basic assistance – over $3,900,000 awarded so far!
  
• Allows troops to call home via VOIP, Voice Over Internet Protocol twice monthly, including holidays such as Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, etc.—a typical month provides over 1.3 million minutes of communication time.
  
• Provides for morale-boosting “welcome home” or “sendoff” events for military units, including VIP treatment for troops and their families at sporting events and entertainment venues. 

All of our programs are free-of-charge to those we so ably assist with no VFW affiliation required to be eligible for aid.
  Any American who cares about patriotism, community betterment, our brave troops in Iraq & Afghanistan, military families, veterans, etc., would find the VFW Foundation worthy of support.

CASE EXAMPLE:  SSG Travis _______________
In 2009, Travis contracted a serious condition called avascular necrosis from medication he was prescribed while serving in Kosovo. The illness can be extremely painful and physically debilitating, causing bone tissue to deteriorate and can lead to eventual bone collapse.

Since the onset of the condition, Travis has had surgeries to replace both hips, and now needs both shoulders replaced as well. Although his health improved following the hip surgeries, he was still unable to work. He’d been awaiting a VA rating increase for over a year and needed immediate financial assistance for his mortgage and utilities.

Travis’ medical NCO told him about VFW’s Unmet Needs program, which provides emergency grants to service members who face unexpected financial difficulty. The recipients need never repay the grant.

Travis acknowledged he was initially hesitant to apply for the program, explaining it was hard for him to ask for help when he was used to providing for himself. In the end he did apply for, and receive, a VFW Unmet Needs grant.

Travis was glad he did, saying, “It was a great relief” knowing his mortgage and utilities would be paid for. “I could breathe again when I heard I got the grant,” he explained, noting he had been forced to withdraw half of his retirement savings prior to receiving the assistance. 

“My experience with the program was great…It was easy to use too. And the people that I spoke to helped me clarify paperwork that was needed,” he explained.

Travis continues to wait for his increased VA rating, and he’s extremely grateful to the VFW for making that wait a little easier to bear. “I just want to say thank you so much for the support. It helped me out when I needed it the most, as well as kept my spirits up and a roof over my head,” he said.

What have you accomplished?

Here is a typical real-life story of how the VFW Foundation assisted a combat wounded veteran returning from Iraq in urgent need. Because of privacy procedure, we will identify the individual only as “Robert”.

CASE EXAMPLE: Robert ___________, Chicago, Illinois

  Robert was an Army Staff Sergeant in Iraq when his platoon walked straight into the path of an exploding IED. Two other soldiers were immediately killed. While Robert miraculously survived, he was hit with shrapnel that penetrated his lungs and heart. Some of the shrapnel remains in his body to this day, too dangerous to remove. Discharged from the military after a long recuperation, he was sent back to the United States to be with his wife and three children. Unfortunately, financial problems soon became overwhelming. The family’s only vehicle was about to be repossessed and the utility company was in the process of turning off their electricity. The VFW Foundation immediately stepped in to provide critical aid. Both financial problems were resolved and the family is now able to survive on Robert’s monthly VA disability check. While Robert’s medical condition is still very difficult with little improvement at least his family does not have to worry about financial burdens.

	How do you help people in my community?		Why do you need my support?
	How can I be sure that you will use my money wisely and won't waste it?		Can I Volunteer? How?