VFW National Home Receives $3.5 Million from GM

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VFW National Home Receives $3.5 Million from GM

Families of America’s Veterans Benefit from Buick, Pontiac and GMC Memorial Day Program

EATON RAPIDS, Mich., June 5, 2006 – From Washington to Patton to Eisenhower, America has always loved its great Generals. Today, the VFW National Home for Children has cause to nominate yet another: General Motors.

The VFW National Home announced today it will soon receive $3.5 million dollars from the sale of nearly 35,000 Buick, Pontiac and GMC vehicles. Through its generosity, GM has drawn significant attention to the needs of military families past, present and future.

The VFW National Home for Children gratefully accepts the donation to aid in its mission to house, educate and nurture the families of our nation’s veterans who have experienced tragedy and loss in their lives.

The benefits of the GMC, Pontiac, and Buick promotion go beyond the substantial financial contribution, according to National Home Executive Director, Patrice Green. “We have been overwhelmed by an outpouring of support and positive attention from this program, which was announced two weeks ago by GM as part of a national promotional event to raise awareness for the Home.”

"By every measurement, this program has been an extraordinary blessing for the National Home. Visits to our Web site have increased by 800 percent and we have been overwhelmed by calls from people all over the country wanting to get involved, seeking our assistance and simply expressing their congratulations and support.

Through this program, many ordinary Americans learned of the Home for the first time and sent a donation, such as Paul G. from Florida who wrote, “I really don’t need a new car, but I want to help as if I had purchased one,” along with a check for $100 dollars.

“We are moved by GM's generosity and their support of our mission. Their donation will, among other things, aid us to both sustain and enhance our quality programs and services." continued Green. “For over 80 years, National Home programs have evolved to meet the changing needs of our nation’s veterans.”

Most heartwarming to the National Home staff and leadership are the calls and letters of excitement and support from alumni all over the country who have seen the commercials aired nationwide. Many tell their stories of how the National Home improved their lives. John M. relates the story of his father and three siblings coming to the Home from California in the late 1930’s.

“I don’t know what would have happened to them if the Home had not been there,” he wrote. An alumnus from the 1970’s, Elisabeth, recalled how she came to the National Home with her mother and three siblings following the death of her father. “The VFW National Home provided us with a home but so much more; from bicycles to trips to an education, the Home helped us when we needed it most. My childhood could have been that of a poor kid in a struggling single parent household, but instead it was often magical.” Another alumnus told us, “The National Home made it possible for me to pursue a nursing degree. They helped care for my children and provided us a home. Their assistance allowed me to focus on my education and to prepare for our future.”

Since 1925 the VFW National Home for Children has been providing for the children and families of our nation’s veterans, while at the same time serving as a living memorial to our nation’s heroes. For more information on the National Home, please call (517) 663-1521, toll-free at (800) 424-8360 or visit www.vfwnationalhome.org.