IN THIS ISSUE Department Commission Reports pages 6 and 7
WWW.INDIANALEGION.ORG
2nd QUARTER 2022
FOR GOD AND COUNTRY
Teamwork Leads to Six-Figure Donation Photos and story by Steve DeFeo
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t the end of its annual fundraiser for Operation Comfort Warriors, the leaders of each of the four entities attached to Kenneth N. Dowden Wayne Post 64 presented donations totaling $100,000 to Indiana’s Past National Commander Jim Koutz for Operation Comfort Warrior. This is just the latest example of how the various Legion Family entities function at the Indianapolis west-side post. American Legion Wayne Post 64 was chartered on November 26th, 1932 and was located at different locations until 1949 when nearly 25 acres were purchased and a building erected at 601 South Holt Road in Indianapolis. In 2004 plans were laid for building a new post, which could be used to grow membership. In May 2006 they opened their doors to the new building; a large facility with a Club Room and Banquet room. In 2019, the post added a large outdoor pavilion in time to host events associated with the 101st American Legion National Convention. “Our Auxiliary, Sons, Riders and Legionnaires work well together to get things done,” Post Commander Glen Hawkins remarked. “During big events, we all come together to get things done,” Hawkins said.
Members of Kenneth N. Dowden Wayne Post 64 fill boxes of food for 48 local families in need.
“Our post is only as good as its members and they all pitch in, not only during major events but regularly and are enthusiastic about it,” Commander Hawkins explained When the National American Legion Convention was hosted in Indianapolis, Post 64 hosted numerous convention-related events. During that week, the Riders handled parking and security – 24 hours a day during the convention. Not to be left out, the Sons Detachment kept the facility in order despite the large crowds. The Auxiliary helped with the food and were hostesses. Finally, the Legionnaires were there to be hosts, coordinate efforts, and fill in where needed. More recently, when The Helping Heroes Freedom Ride needed a location to use as the base for their charity ride around I-465, Post 64 stepped up to offer its facilities and services. “It was an impressive sight to see how everyone at the Post worked together to plan and support the charity ride,” Hawkins explained. “We had more than 400 motorcycles and more than 800 people here for the ride. The place was packed. The event had a band with an outdoor stage, Huey helicopter rides, and an appearance by Medal of Honor recipient Sammy Davis”, the commander said. The event organizers were so impressed by the short-notice efforts of the post members that they have scheduled to have the event at the post again this year. “Our post is only as good as its members and they all pitch in, not only during major events but regularly and are enthusiastic about it,” Commander Hawkins explained. The different entities also have taken the initiative to continue improving the post. For example, the Auxiliary refurbished two large lithographs languishing in the original, unused building as part of the Legion Centennial. The Sons took the initiative to find someone to remove and restore a 73 year old American Legion stained glass emblem to display in a case in the current building. The Riders took the initiative and expanded the bike parking pad to more than double its previous size accommodation that many more motorcycles. KND Wayne Post 64 has also been responsible for contributing to local charitable organizations from schools to police organizations to youth sports programs. Additionally, the post regularly sponsors Boys and Girl State attendees and Indiana Cadet Youth Law Enforcement Academy cadets. Annually the post and its entities sponsor 48 local, needy families by providing food staples and presents for their children during the holiday season. “Again, all of our fundraising efforts for local and American Legion programs are due to our members and their fundraising efforts. All of our entities regularly raise funds and contribute to programs helping people locally and through National Legion programs like the Legacy Fund,” Hawkins explained. “I couldn’t be prouder of the team and the good we do because of them.”
Food and toys are being loaded so this family can have an enjoyable holiday season.
ALR Director Scott Smith loads a box full of food onto a truck
Legacy Foundation Offers Strategy For the Future Story by Hugh Dagley
The Indiana American Legion Legacy Foundation has moved quickly from vision to fulfillment of its mission “to conduct and perpetuate the programs of The American Legion serving Indiana’s veterans, their families and its youth.” Established by the Department Executive Committee in 2018, the Foundation currently supports Hoosier Boys State, the High School Oratorical Contest, and the Law Enforcement Cadet program while aggressively pursuing new strategies for long term funding. According to Billy Johnson, the Foundation’s business development manager, the Foundation’s continuing success in sponsoring Legion services and programs relies on a two-fold strategy: expanding the opportunities for contributions and engaging the public. “For too long, Hoosier Legionnaires had few options for contributing financially to programs and activities that directly benefit
Indiana families and veterans. The Foundation now affords them that opportunity,” he said. “Anyone contributing to the Foundation has two options: direct contributions to the Foundation itself, or to a specific program by contributing an amount restricted for that program,” he said. Although current direct support is limited to a handful of programs, Johnson’s vision for the Foundation is “to fully fund all the programs currently supported by the Department of Indiana. “For example, the Children’s’ Education and Welfare Fund and the Hoosier Boys State programs are activities for which contributions would be restricted. If a donor or gift giver gives to one of those restricted areas, those dollars will be used exclusively to support them” he said. Restricted donations enable the donor to be certain that the funds given for a specific purpose are in fact used for that purpose.
“We track restricted funds separately within the structure of our financial records in order to assure donors that their wishes are respected, while general contributions to the Foundation are available for all purposes for which the Foundation was established,” Johnson said. Those purposes are set forth in the Foundation’s vision statement to “contribute to the welfare of the citizens of the State of Indiana by supporting, funding and administering activities and programs of The American Legion Department of Indiana based on the founding principles of Veterans Affairs and Rehabilitation, Americanism, and Children and Youth.” Contributions received to date are a combination of gifts from Legion posts, local businesses and individual members, totaling nearly a half-million dollars. In order to mobilize local business leaders to be a part of the fundraising effort, “it was decided to add an advisory board to the current
Legacy Foundation committee members because of their influence around the state,” Johnson said. “The role of the advisory board is to advice the Foundation board and to utilize their business connections in our fund-raising efforts, but we keep in mind that small donors are as important as the large donors. We have had Legionnaires give as little as $50.00 and as high as $10,000, and Legion posts across the state have done their part in supporting the Foundation,” he said, adding that one post has given over $20,000. In its more than a century of service, The American Legion has consistently looked to the future to guide its decisions and develop the strategies for meeting its responsibilities. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the Department of Indiana. Contributions to the Foundation can be sent directly to the Department of Indiana or on the Foundation’s website www.indianalegionlegacy.org.