Fwd: Child Well-being foundation (CWF) 2026 grants NEC

[William D Kelly]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: john lawrence <1964...@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Dec 10, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Subject: Child Well-being foundation (CWF) 2026 grants NEC
To:

bcc NEC & ANEC members

Fellow NEC members

Please pass this along to your detachment officers and your squadrons.  Below are the 2026 grants awarded by the CWF.  Pay close attention to item #1 $550,000 to American Legion National HQ.  Last year it was $525,000.

When I was at our fall NEC meeting, I asked the CWF chairman Mark Nave to itemize the programs supported by the $550k.  There was no itemization in Mark's first email.  However, I have received another email with some additional clarification that was sent to the CWF committee members.  This second email still does not itemize what the money is being used for from this year's grant.  Both of these emails were not sent to the members of the NEC to pass on to their detachments as I feel they should have been.

The Sons donate in the neighborhood of $400k each year to CWF alone and huge sums to other programs and this is how we are rewarded with $550k going to Legion HQ and no explanation of how it is being used.

An email was sent by another Sons member to the President of the CWF, Dennis Boland.  Mr. Boland was asked to provide more details on the grants.  Mr. Boland's response did not include any itemized details regarding the grant and there was no indication that the information would be forthcoming.  I believe that this answer is unacceptable.

Raise it local keep it local! 

You work long and hard to raise money to support our veterans and youth.  Consider not donating this money to any national program.  

Support local programs like your department boys state, girls state, a local legion baseball team, local veteran homes, your local post etc.  You can support our mission and keep your donations local and still take credit for it on your CSR.  Furthermore, and most important, by keeping it local you get to see the gratitude on the faces of those you have helped.

The first email from Mark Nave Chairman CWF:

Good morning gentlemen, below are the 2026 grants that have been awarded by the Child Well-Being Foundation

American Legion National HQ                     $550,000

Children's Flight of Hope                              $30,853

Cleveland County ALWS Baseball Inc        $125.000

Comfort Crew for Military Kids                     $35,000

Family Reach                                                $25,000

Heartline Equine Therapeutic

Riding Academy                                            $2,400

Mercy Medical Angels                                   $16,000

National Braille Press                                    $17,289

Young Marines Inc.                                       $50,000

Total Grants Awarded                                    $851,542

4 out of the 6 Sons selections were awarded. There would have been a 5th one but the Board doesn't like to give back to back awards to a sponsor. The Board does recognize our contributions and this year outside of the Legion and Cleveland County selections, the ones that were considered were the SAL and Auxiliary selections. This is your donations at work. Let's continue the great work in leading the way in donations!

In Comradeship

Mark Nave

Chairman, Child Well-Being Foundation Committee 

Second email to CWF committee:

From: cool...@aol.com
Date: October 23, 2025 at 2:03:54 PM EDT
To: Jon Coakley III <bigbuc...@aol.com>, Ken George Fleming <gflem...@ymail.com>, Sanford Lipman <sandyl...@hotmail.com>, John Sansoucie <johnandch...@charter.net>, Lyle Chapman <ldcha...@gmail.com>
Subject: Awards to American Legion - CWF



Good afternoon, in the past 5 years, $2,408,000 has been awarded to the American Legion Children & Youth budget over the past 5 years. $333,000 for 2022, $500,000 in 2023 and 2024. $525,000 for and $550,000 for 2026. $375,000 has been awarded to Cleveland County for the American Legion Baseball. $125,000 was awarded for 2024, 2025 and 2026. The total donations for the past 5 years is $2,783,000. 

--

John C. Lawrence

Sons of the American Legion

Detachment of LA NEC

Past National Vice Commander 2024-2025

1964...@gmail.com

(c) 504-884-0460