Brothers
and Sisters,
I hope you are doing well, and you have started your year off strongly,
supporting our veterans.
Updates for 2025-2026
MAP GRANTS
1.
Each Post, including its Auxiliary,
only has $5000.00 per fiscal year to apply for its adopted unit functions. $1500.00
is the maximum for each event
2.
Grants will not be available until mid-September
after the VFW National Council meets
3.
Applications are now embedded in the
National VFW website under their Dashboard. Starting September 2025, only Posts
can apply for the grants. Auxiliaries that normally submit these requests must
work with their posts to get this done.
4.
On the Dashboard, there is a running
total to let VFW Posts know how much money remains in the account. $150,000.00
is the starting amount.
5.
PLAN AHEAD. National Headquarters no
longer require us to wait until 2 weeks before the event. You can apply for all
events once the money is available. (If you have an event happening in
Summer 2026, apply now to ensure money is allocated)
6.
Once the money runs out, there will be
no more until next year.
7.
Units must be adopted before the MAP
grant is utilized.
8.
Receipts and final reports need to be
submitted within 2 weeks of the event.
9.
National would like Post/Auxiliaries
to fundraise in their communities for this program to create a stronger bond
with the military and the community.
UNMET NEEDS (NEW NAME: VFW Financial
Assistance for Service Members)
1.
Service member or eligible Dependent
enrolled in DEERS
2.
Soldiers who are deployed and their
families can apply for up to $2500.00.
3.
To be eligible you must be a service
member who is currently on active duty (to include active guard and reserve
members) whose financial hardship is a direct result of current deployment,
military pay error at no fault of the service member or currently pending a
medical discharge due to service-connected injuries and illnesses received
while on active duty
4.
All grants are paid directly to the
creditor and not to the applicant.
5.
Remember to support our sponsors,
Burger King, during the months that they collect money for this program.
SPORTSCLIPS HELP A HERO
1.
Please share information with your
local colleges and at your recruiting events to attract more veteran students
to apply.
2.
Participate with local SportsClips
during November by getting a haircut or having a fundraiser with SportsClips to
raise awareness about this amazing opportunity.
SUICIDE AWARENESS
1.
Plan an event with your local county
offices and have a day to educate your communities on what Suicide Prevention
can do for our Military and Veteran Community.
2.
Connect with an organization to have a
walk in October.
3.
September is Suicide Awareness Month.
Plan an activity to help your community prepare for when they encounter an
emergency event.
I will have all this information and more at our upcoming training
academies. Please remember that we have 4000 troops deployed and many of the
units have not been adopted. Talk to your Posts/Auxiliaries to see if you have
the ability to support a unit and let me know.
I look forward to reading everyone’s activities.
Thank You, Tracy Bogard
Upcoming Event
My contact at the National Guard sent me an email about the
upcoming Homecoming
NEW DATE: Saturday,
July 19th - 2 Ceremonies
Location: Camp
Withycombe 15300 SE Minuteman Way, Clackamas, OR 97015. Main
building (Through the gate, turn left and park where you can.) You must show ID
(Driver's License, or Military ID) to get through the main gate
Check In Day of Event: Please
check in with Cathy Barber (503) 430 4879 and Tony Barber (503) 964-0822.
Units include:
The National Guard will be entertaining the families while we
wait for the soldiers to return.
Once the soldiers arrive, they will get off the
bus, file onto the drill floor, and COL Helzer will speak for a few
minutes and dismiss the soldiers to their families.
VFW Post and Auxiliary 12140 will be offering items to eat and
drink.
If you would like to donate funds, please send
a check to Lawrence Alberti VFWA 12140, Memo: Welcome Home, Address:
22350 SW Stafford Rd, Tualatin, OR 97062.
Cathy Barber will be purchasing food and
drinks.
Thank you to the following Auxiliaries for
donating $520.00 so far:
VFW Post and Auxiliary will have an info table for family
members showcasing our VFW programs. Tabling was added today, so if
your group wants an info table, please let me know.
If you would like to help with any part
of this day or have questions, please contact Tracy Bogard.
