Philanthropist Lois Pope Challenges States To Raise $5 Million, Which She Will Match, For American Veterans Disabled For Life Memorial
First Gifts From National Veterans Of Foreign Wars In Kansas City,
And Cincinnati-Based Fifth Third Foundation
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| Mrs. Pope & Commander-in-Chief Jim Mueller |
Lois Pope, one of America's most dedicated philanthropists and co-founder and chairperson of the Disabled Veterans LIFE Memorial Foundation, challenged all 50 states today to demonstrate their commitment to America's three million living disabled veterans and all those who have passed away, by giving them an early but everlasting holiday gift -- raising a minimum $100,000 each toward the building of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial in Washington D.C. Mrs. Pope will match the funds dollar for dollar up to a maximum of $5 million. The challenge can be met through public and private funds from individuals, corporations, and foundations.
Mrs. Pope announced the first gift to the challenge program: $100,000 from the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, based in Kansas City, MO.
The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial will be the first national memorial in Washington, DC honoring America's disabled veterans. The Disabled Veterans LIFE Memorial Foundation is building the memorial on a beautiful two-plus acre site in full view of the U.S. Capitol Building and across from the U.S. Botanic Gardens for the memorial.
Created through a federal law signed by President Clinton in 2000, the memorial will be completed in the next several years. The Foundation is currently in the midst of a $65 million campaign to build the memorial; by law, all donations must come from the private sector-no federal public funds may be used. The Foundation has raised over $10 million for the project to date.
"I hope that people in all 50 states will be inspired by my challenge," Mrs. Pope said. "Each is home to disabled veterans - men and women who have parts of their bodies, and in some cases their minds, in service to our nation. In fact, more than 15,000 troops alone have been wounded in Iraq, including over 7,000 with severe injuries to the spine, head, organs and limbs. We have a responsibility to ensure that these men and women, and the three million other living disabled American veterans who have given so much more than was asked of them, are never neglected or erased from our collective memory. That is the purpose of the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial. It will be the gift of the American people to these unsung heroes who continue to bear the scars of military service long after the guns have fallen silent and the memory of their sacrifice has faded from our consciousness."
In making the gift from the Fifth Third Foundation, its President and CEO George A. Schaefer, Jr., a West Point graduate and Vietnam veteran, said: "The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial is an important tribute to the millions of men and women that have been hurt defending freedom around the world. Fifth Third pledged its support to the Memorial in recognition of their sacrifice. On behalf of our employees and customers, Fifth Third salutes all disabled veterans who helped protect our American values and way of life."
In announcing the VFW commitment, Commander-in-Chief Jim Mueller said the VFW is honored to be among the first veterans' service organizations to offer financial support to the foundation for the purpose of constructing the memorial.
"This memorial will honor the service and sacrifice of an estimated three million disabled veterans living amongst us today," said Mueller, a Vietnam veteran from O'Fallon, MO, "and, it will serve as a constant reminder to all Americans that there's a cost to war that continues long after the last shots have sounded."
Disabled American Veterans National Adjutant Arthur H. Wilson, president and co-founder of the Disabled Veterans LIFE Memorial Foundation, praised both the Fifth Third Foundation and the VFW. "Through their remarkable generosity," he said, "we will honor and celebrate America's patriots who have paid dearly for our freedom. With their foresight and commitment, the Fifth Third Foundation and the VFW are supporting the construction of The American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial, a national memorial that will express America's lasting gratitude to the men and women whose lives were forever changed in service to our country. This Memorial will soon become one of our nation's most treasured landmarks."
For more information on the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial and the 50 state challenge grant campaign, visit www.dvlmf.org.
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