The American Legion National Commander to Present $50K Grant to Assist Women Veterans by Funding VA Baby Shower Events Nationwide

--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The American Legion:

WHEN :	Wednesday, May 9, 2018 – Approximately 1:45 pm.
WHERE:	National Executive Committee Room of The American Legion National Headquarters, 700 N. Pennsylvania St., Indianapolis, IN 46204
WHAT:	Since its creation in 2008, The American Legion Operation Comfort Warriors program has donated more than $2 million of comfort items to wounded, injured and ill U.S. military veterans and servicemembers around the globe. American Legion National Commander Denise H. Rohan directed a $50,000 grant be awarded to the Department of Veterans Affairs to support its nationwide Baby Shower, which will be conducted at VA hospitals across the country. Accepting the grant as a representative of the entire VA system will be Dr. Brian Hancock, director of Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis.
WHY:	The Department of Veterans Affairs is celebrating Mother’s Day by hosting baby showers at 60 VA Medical Centers around the country May 5-16. Nearly half of the two million women’s veterans population are reproductive age, with many using VA facilities. More than 2,400 new veteran parents and parent-to-be will receive baby “welcome kits,” which includes a diaper bag, toiletries, blanket, hat and other items. The OCW grant will fund 1,000 kits.
	“The American Legion strongly supports women veterans, and we also support their families,” National Commander Denise H. Rohan said. “We applaud VA’s outreach to these new mothers and we believe this is a worthy use of Operation Comfort Warriors donations. Not only do veterans sacrifice for our nation, but the children of these veterans do so as well. And this grant is just another meaningful way to show our gratitude.”
ABOUT:	With a current membership of two million wartime veterans, The American Legion was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism and youth programs. Legionnaires support their communities through nearly 13,000 posts across the nation. To find out more about The American Legion, please visit Legion.org.
MEDIA:	Contact: John Raughter, [phone], [e-mail]. Please contact if you plan to attend or cover this event.