Page 7 - DISPATCH APRIL 2022 MAGAZINE

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Dispatch 7
Promote the challenge.
National headquarters staff has
created promotional items for
participants to share. For
example, there is a poster that
can be displayed at your post,
community center or elsewhere. Additionally,
there is a small handout card with a QR code
that can be given to someone to sign up or
donate on the spot, or used as a leave-behind at
ameeting.V±sit®Iegion.org/100miles/tools
for these and other promotional items.
Track your miles. The Kilter app is not being
used. But there are two options for participants
to track their miles on their own page on legion.
org. The activity tracker page will allow you to
either sync a device such as an Apple watch or
FitBit using the Strava technology, or manually
enter your activities. To learn how to track your
miles,visit®Iegion.org/100miles/ AmericanLegionFomilymembersraiseover$106,000forOperotlon(omfortWarriorsatPost64in
activitytracking. Indianapolis. Photo try Steve DeFeo
There are dozens of activities to choose from
on the tracker page such as walking, cycling,
rucking, running, skiing, riding a motorcycle, POSTA(TIVITIES
canoeing, using a stand-up paddleboard and
more. If you can't find your activity, you can Legion Family donations
choose "other."
support veterans
Fundraise. Family members, friends and others
can support your loo Miles for Hope with a
donation on your behalf. And there are
individual participant incentives for $100, $250 Kenny N. Dowden Wayne Post 64 in Indianapolis raised over
and $500 donations. Learn more about the 100 $106,000 for American Legion Operation Comfort Warriors (OCW)
Miles for Hope Mobile Cause donation during its March 27 fundraiser. More than 350 people attended the ham
platformat®Iegion.org/100miles/ and beans meal, and enjoyed music and games, including Past National
fundraising. Commander James E. Koutz.
"It was a really, really great day." Koutz said. And at the end of the
Create your own team. It is also possible for
American Legion districts, posts or other benefit event, "the crowd went crazy when they gave me the check for the
entities that would like to create their own Sloo,000." Koutz made Operation Comfort Warriors his marquee
challenge against another group. If you would fundraising mission in 2012 and 2013. When his term ended, his passion
like to create a new team, please email for OCW did not fade. Since his year as national commander, he has
donorservices@legion.org. helped raise millions of dollars for the program that provides comfort
Earn incentives. American Legion Riders and items and recreational opportunities for wounded and sick military
chapters can also earn rewards throughout the personnel and veterans in severe need.
Learn more at a /eg/.on.org/ocw.
challenge for their fundraising Howard A. Van Wagner American Legion Post 962 in Locust Valley,
accomplishments. To see the details and specific
rewards for American Legion Riders chapters, N.Y., recently donated $6,000 to the Ukrainian Congress Committee of
vtsit®Iegion.org/100miles/fundraising. America Long Island Chapter to provide military protective gear and
grade field dressings for frontline fighters in Ukraine. This donation
Share your journey. The American Legion included $1,000 from American Legion Auxiliary Unit 962.
encourages all participants to share their loo "We've all been impressed with the fortitude and strength of the
Miles for Hope journeys with their family Ukrainian people and what they're doing in an overwhelming situation,
members, friends and others. Share your and we wanted to help in some way," said Tony Bliss, Post 962 treasurer
progress and fundraising achievements on and past commander.
a /eg/.ontown.org. For social media posts, use Bohdan Kopystianskyj, a Post 962 member who is of Ukrainian
the hashtag #100MilesForHope and tag The heritage and has family still living there, is grateful for the donation.
American Legion. Want a personalized social "I'm grateful that there were so many people who felt a certain sense of
media graphic? Learn how at a /eg/.on. obligation to help the Ukraine cause in trying to defend themselves from
org/100miles/share.
(Vladimir) Putin."