Child Welfare Foundation
	C.A.T. Lyle Larson

The Detachment of Kansas actively supports The American Legion Child Welfare Foundation and each year participates in fundraising and donation efforts.  On the National stage, awards and certificates are available to each Squadron that has donated over $100.00 during the contribution year.  Awards are presented during the National Convention for the highest per-capita Detachment and largest monetary donations by Region.  The Garland F. Murphy National plaque is also awarded during the National Convention for the Detachment with the largest total donation amount.

The goals of the Child Welfare Foundation are as follows:

To contribute to the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual welfare of children and youth through the dissemination of knowledge about new and innovative organizations and/or programs designed to benefit youth

To contribute to the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual welfare of children and youth through the dissemination of knowledge already possessed by established organizations, to the end that such information can be more adequately used by society.

During 2008, The Sons of The American Legion donated $332,426. Members of the American Legion Family are the primary contributors to the success and growth of the Child Welfare Foundation.  Each member and local organization is encouraged to make an annual contribution in support of the foundation.  Your support allows CWF to continue funding projects that improve the quality of life for our nation's children.  Every dollar given to the foundation is used for grants that assist young people.

American Legion Children's Home - Ponca City, OK

The American Legion Children's Home in Ponca City, Oklahoma, was established in 1928 as an orphanage for children of veterans who could not provide for their young.  The land, as well as the funds for the first dormitory, were donated by E. W. Marland, Conoco Oil man and past Governor of Oklahoma.  The facility now serves as a Home to 62 children 11-18 years of age.  Over the past 80 years, the home has served children from a wide variety of backgrounds with very diverse needs caused by loss of family, depravity, abuse or neglect.  Since opening in 1928, the Home has served approximately 8,000 children and still stands as the one and only American Legion Children's Home in our nation.  As a neighboring state, The Sons of the American Legion, Detachment of Kansas have actively embraced the need to assist this facility with gifts of friendship, encouragement and regularly visits to offer help where needed.

Child Welfare Projects

Over the course of the past several years, the Sons of the American Legion at the National level have sponsored grants to National Exchange Foundation (Toledo, OH); Our Military Kids, Inc (McLean, VA); Children's Organ Transplant Association (Bloomington, IN); Huntington's Disease Society of America, Inc. (New York, NY) and the National Association of Students Against Violence Everywhere-SAVE (Raleigh, NC).  As part of its on going commitment to support this major component of The American Legion, the Detachment of Kansas considers its activities and support to the Child Welfare Foundation a primary financial responsibility and works effortlessly to assure continued contributions on an annual basis.

If you would like to learn more about the Child Welfare Program please click here>