Individual grants to be awarded to disabled war vets

INDIANAPOLIS (Dec. 4, 2007) -The Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes presented a check of $500,000 to The American Legion so the nation’s largest veterans organization can award grants to disabled veterans who served in the Iraq or Afghanistan wars.

“These grants are just a small token of appreciation for the sacrifices made by so many of America’s men and women in uniform,” said Thomas J. Palma, general manager of the Coalition. “Our Coalition was able to raise a lot of money from caring people but we do not have the distribution network of The American Legion. The Legion is a well-respected organization with a presence in communities across America. The American Legion will do an excellent job in getting those grants to deserving veterans.”

American Legion National Commander Marty Conatser said that The American Legion is honored to participate in such a worthy project.

“We are extremely grateful to the Coalition for its generous contribution to America’s heroes. Some of these grants will be awarded just in time to brighten the holidays for those who need the help,” said Conatser.

The funds will be divided into $500 grants and awarded to veterans of Afghanistan and Iraq who are rated with disabilities of 30 percent or more. The American Legion will assume all distribution administrative costs, meaning that 1,000 grants will be awarded - the entire amount of the Coalition’s contribution.

It is not the first time that the two organizations have teamed up to award grants to disabled veterans. The American Legion distributed checks for the Coalition in 2005.

“The program was so successful two years ago that The American Legion’s National Executive Committee unanimously passed a resolution at our last convention authorizing our assistance in this great endeavor,” Conatser said.

The Coalition to Salute America’s Heroes, www.saluteheroes.org , is a nonprofit organization that was created to provide a way for individuals, corporations and others to help severely wounded and disabled Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans and their families rebuild their lives.

The American Legion, www.legion.org, was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and patriotic youth programs. The Legion’s 2.7 million wartime veterans work for the betterment of their communities through more than 14,000 posts across the nation.