As summer winds down, we’re reflecting on the powerful ways the American Legion Auxiliary Foundation supported veterans and their families across the country this season. Through our Veteran Projects Fund and Veterans Creative Arts Festival grants, we were proud to award funding to several innovative and heartfelt initiatives. From life-saving equipment to creative arts therapy, the ALA Foundation is grateful to help bring these projects to life.
Here’s a look at the grants awarded this summer:
Saving lives in West Virginia
The Department of West Virginia was awarded $7,622.69 to purchase and install five Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for the West Virginia Veterans Home (WVVH), a 125-bed facility serving veterans in need of skilled care. Three AEDs will be wall-mounted within the home, and two will be mobile units placed in vans used by WVVH, ensuring critical cardiac response equipment is always close at hand.
Gaming for good in California
ALA Unit 46 of Inglewood, Calif., received $10,000 in support of Stack Up’s “Hundred Heroes” 2025 holiday campaign. The grant will help purchase 13 PlayStation 5 Pro gaming consoles, which will be shipped to deployed military units to promote recreation, reduce isolation, promote social interaction, and support overall well-being.
Building access in Nebraska
A $10,000 grant to the Department of Nebraska is helping to construct an ADA-compliant ramp and elevated deck at the Omaha campus of New Visions Homeless Services (NVHS). This campus exclusively serves around 150 veterans annually experiencing chronic homelessness, offering housing alongside physical and mental health services. This grant helps ensure veterans can access services with dignity and safety.
Cognitive engagement in Wisconsin
ALA Johnson-Nicoles-Kuhlman-Olson Unit 53 of Eau Claire, Wis., received $5,200 to purchase and place into service a Touch2Play Max system on a mobile cart at the Wisconsin Veterans Home in Chippewa Falls. This 24-hour skilled nursing facility supports veterans, their spouses, and Gold Star Parents. The multi-touch gaming system provides entertainment, stimulation, and meaningful interaction for residents to help combat loneliness and cognitive decline.
Healing through art in Florida
ALA Winter Park Unit 112 in Winter Park, Fla., was awarded $2,500 for its Veterans Healing Through Expression Art Program, a collaboration with the Central Florida Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). Monthly workshops using art as a healing and expressive tool for veterans throughout Central Florida will be conducted leading up to the 2026 Orlando VA Veterans Creative Arts Festival.
None of these projects would be possible without the support of our donors, volunteers, and ALA members who believe in honoring and uplifting our nation’s heroes. Together, we are expanding the reach of care, comfort, and community for veterans from coast to coast.
Stay tuned as we head into the fall with more opportunities to serve! If you are interested in learning more about the ALA Foundation’s grants or submitting an application, please visit ALAFoundation.org/grants.