Explanation of the ALA Department of Illinois Master Snip Sheet

Dept President’s Special Project – Each year a program or cause with significant meaning to the Department President is promoted. Units and Members are asked for their donations and support

Americanism
Americanism Fund – Funds donated are used to promote the mission of the American Legion Auxiliary along with jointly sponsoring the Americanism Essay contest scholarship awards with The American Legion and Sons of The American Legion.
Spirit of Youth Fund – Donations to this program are sent to National to support the National Scholarships.

Auxiliary Emergency Fund – All donations are forwarded to National who provides grant assistance including temporary emergency help to eligible members who have suffered a significant financial setback as a result of an act of nature or other personal crisis.

Children and Youth
Children’s Miracle Network – Donations may be made to 1 or all the 4 locations listed. Provides for pediatric care with the latest benefits and innovations in medical technology, research, and family-friendly design.
Christmas Gift Program – Donations fund Christmas gifts and parties in IL youth care facilities in a joint effort with The American Legion.
Children and Youth Scholarship – Donations fund the $1000 scholarships to applicants working toward a degree in education with the emphasis on teaching mentally or physically challenged children.
Illinois Military Kids Project – Formerly known as the “Pillowcase Project” and “Operation Military Kids”. This program purchases pillowcases, ink and supplies for volunteers to take a picture of the deploying parent and child and heat transfer it onto a pillowcase which is given to each one of them.
Special Olympics – Donations fund the Auxiliary portion of the rental fee for the Legion Family Hospitality Tent at the Special Olympics Summer Games at ISU in Normal.
Special Olympics – Donations are used to purchase food, supplies, etc. for the hospitality tent at the Special Olympics Summer Games at ISU in Normal.

Education – Donations are used to award $1000 scholarships to those not majoring in nursing. This does not include PPP Nurses, Edna Mae Unfer, or Children and Youth Scholarships. A unit must donate to this fund in order to sponsor an applicant for an Illinois scholarship. The donations received will be awarded each year in the form of $1000 individual scholarships, (i.e. $10,000 = 10 scholarship winners).

Junior Activities
Dept Junior Conference – Donations are used to underwrite the annual Department of Illinois Junior Conference.
Junior Group Donations – A Unit’s Junior Group can make donations to Junior Conference and other ALA programs.

ALA Illini Girls State
ALA/IGS Program Donation –Donations are used to underwrite the Girls State Program.
ALA/ IGS Registration – Units prepay the $250 fee to send a citizen to ALA IGS.

National Security
National Security Fund – Funds donated to this fund are used to promote the American Legion Auxiliary mission along with college student ROTC medals and awards. ROTC awards Include $50 and the medal which are presented at 6 colleges: Northern, Southern, Eastern, Western, ISU (Bloomington), and U of I (Champaign).
USO Centers - Donations may be made to any of the 5 locations to assist them in continuing to provide their services.

Past Presidents Parley
Nurses Scholarship – Donations are used to award $1000 scholarships.
Parley Dues – Units pay $1 per past President in their unit. Donations to this and the Nurses Scholarship program are required of a unit to sponsor an applicant for a nurse’s scholarship.

Veterans Affairs and Rehab
Six Point Program:
Treasure Chest/Hospitality – Donations to this point are used by Representatives in facilities to buy hospitality and comfort items.
Canteen Books –Donations purchase canteen books used at veteran’s facilities. Resident purchases items from canteen/gift shops.
Fresh Fruit - Fresh fruit is purchased by the Representative and placed on the trays or in the rooms.
Christmas Gift Shop - Donations are used to buy $10 gift cards or gifts, wrapping paper, cards, tape, supplies etc for the Gift Shop events in facilities.
Easter Gift – Donations fund the $5 monetary gift given to each veteran in nursing homes, homebound, and those in VA hospitals.
Accredited Local VA Nursing Homes - Donations buy what is needed and/or requested for the veteran population in nursing homes. Some examples are blankets, lap robes and slippers.

Postage Stamps – Postage stamps are made available to all veterans. Whether they are writing home or sending a card to a friend or loved one.
Fisher House - Donations support the Hines Fisher House property both inside and out. Founded in 1990, a Fisher House is “a home away from home” for family members, caregivers or loved ones of patients receiving medical care at major military and VA medical centers. It is a temporary residence and is not a treatment facility, hospice, or counseling center. By law, there is no charge for any family to stay at a Fisher House operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs. It is named after founders Zachary and Elizabeth Fisher.

Hospital and Facilities – General Donation
Separate accounts are kept for each facility. When you designate an amount for a facility that is where it is deposited. Funds not designated to a specific facility are used where the need is greatest. A representative is appointed to each facility by the Department President each year. She works with the Voluntary Services Director to fulfill wish lists and needs for comfort items. Donations fund many different things. Comfort items of clothing and personal care items top the list, but by all means are not the only items provided. The Convention Book of Reports is an excellent source to learn how donations are spent.

The American Legion
Gifts to the Yanks – Donations support items purchased during the Holiday Season for veterans in Illinois VA Facilities.
American Legion Child Welfare Foundation – Donations to this program support the mission of the Foundation to award grants to nonprofit organizations that contribute to the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual welfare of children.

TAL Commanders Special Project and SAL Commanders Special Project - Just as with the Department President’s Special Project, these are causes or programs that have significant meaning and members are given the opportunity to donate to and support.

National Organization
ALA Foundation - The American Legion Auxiliary Foundation positively impacts the lives of our veterans, military, and their families by funding programs of the American Legion Auxiliary today and for future generations. A donation to this program enables the Foundation to grant monies for Auxiliary projects. Members and Units can also run grants from outside sources through the Foundation as it has a 501c3 IRS designation.
National Creative Arts Program - The key purpose of the National Veterans Creative Arts competition and festival is to recognize veterans for their creative accomplishments and to educate and demonstrate to communities throughout the country the therapeutic benefits of the arts. The National organization is a co-sponsor of this event. All donations are sent from Department to National.
National President’s Special Project - Self-explanatory. A donation to this program will be sent to National earmarked for the project she has chosen for her year.

Memorial donations can be made at the bottom of the snip sheet. Be sure to list the Auxiliary programs you would like the donation applied to. Also provide the full name and address if you would like Department to send a memorial card acknowledgement.

Any programs that has *** symbol by it on the snip sheet signifies that poppy funds can be used as a donation to this program.
Updated 09-20-2022

As your finance committee we hope to continue our dedication to our Veterans by supporting Hugs for our Hero’s, by guarding our finances to insure a future of success and love for our veterans and their families.

The Finance Committee met on July 29, 2022. Those in attendance included our Department President Janet, NEC Patti, Department Treasurer Marybeth, Department 1st Vice President Angie, Department 2nd Vice President Arlene, Department Historian Jill, Department Managing Director Renee, Bookkeeper Brenda and committee members Sue Cunniff Coughlin, Julia Moore, Pam Corbin, Judy Zimmerman and myself.

The Committee reviewed last year’s finances, asked questions, made recommendations and completed a budget to realize funds for programs and the administration of our Department for this Auxiliary year.

We will once again hold our Basket Auction/Raffle at Patriotic Conference asking our Officers and Chairmen to consider donating a basket. We will hold a Basket Auction/Raffle at Convention asking our District and Division Presidents to consider donating a basket. We will also hold a Purse auction at Department Convention. We will once again have a Quarter Auction on Friday afternoon at Department Convention. We received many great comments about how much fun they had and how good it was to laugh with friends. We will once again join with the American Legion Family in their Sweepstakes Raffle. Senior members will receive tickets in late December or early January. A drawing will be held at the Lincoln Pilgrimage in February, you might be the winner of $10,000.00. After the drawing all tickets will be destroyed. A second Sweepstake mailing will be done in May with the drawing held at our Department Convention in July. $25,000.00 in cash prizes will be awarded at each drawing.

Please find your copy of the 2022-2023 proposed budget. It is important to review this as these are the projected expenditures with which we will finance this Auxiliary year. If you have any questions please, now is the time to ask. We have worked very hard to keep the expenditures down.

Recommendations are established to provide guidance to Officers and Chairmen….please find your Recommendations from the Finance Committee. This year we have added more information to make it easier for everyone. Department Chairmen, you received a copy of the Department of Illinois Procedure Guide, please read it and ask questions if you do not understand anything listed under your chairmanship. We are counting on each of you to do your job. We are all here if you have any questions.

Just a note to all Board Members and Chairmen…before you plan to spend any of this Department’s money, you must obtain approval from our Department President Janet and this Finance Chairman.
We will not survive as a viable operating Department without the support of our Auxiliary members for our various fund raising projects. You have been wonderful in the past I hope we can count on you to help make this another successful financial year for our Auxiliary.
I would like to recognize the other members on this committee; Sue Cunniff Coughlin, Julia Moore, Pam Corbin, Judy Zimmerman. Thank you for all of your support and help.

AMERICAN LEGION FAMILY SWEEPSTAKES

In the mail you will receive your tickets for The American Legion Family Sweepstakes. The drawing for the winners of up to $10,000 will be February 12, 2023 at the Lincoln Pilgrimage. Please don't forget to send in your ticket stubs and check for this extremely successful fund raiser.