Americanism and Children & Youth Division

[Serving the National Americanism Commission and the National Commission on Children & Youth of The American Legion]

Contact the Americanism, Children and Youth Division

At the national level, there is a distinct line that separates the work of the two commissions. This line may be less noticeable at the department (state) level and even non-existent within posts of The American Legion. Post level chairmen designated as Americanism chairmen may well hold responsibility for programs that, by national standards, fall within the realm of Children & Youth work, and vice versa. And that’s OK.

Americanism Programs

Programs of the Americanism Commission are high visibility programs. Most are designed to benefit America’s young people who might be considered average and above. American Legion Boys States and Boys Nation are two such Americanism programs. Others include American Legion Baseball, the High School Oratorical Contest, and the Junior Shooting Sports Program. All are very competitive and highly structured.

Other recognizable programs under the jurisdiction of the Americanism Commission are Boy Scout unit sponsorship, Get Out the Vote initiatives, Flag Education, and Education & Scholarship programs and information. The latter would include distribution of the Legion’s financial aid handbook, "Need A Lift?", The American Legion Samsung Scholarship, and the Legion’s American Legacy Scholarship for the children of America’s fighting men and women who died on active duty on or after September 11, 2001.

Children & Youth Programs

Although referred to as programs of children & youth, these programs may be better defined as child welfare work, since they deal almost exclusively with disadvantaged children. C&Y programs address concerns for young people who face social, economic, emotional or physical hurdles. Some examples would be the Legion’s work with the Children’s Miracle Network, childhood immunization efforts, substance abuse prevention, crime prevention (missing children), family emphasis, child safety and Temporary Financial Assistance for veterans’ children.

The American Legion Child Welfare Foundation, although separate and distinct from the Commission on Children & Youth, is a major part of the overall program. Founded in 1954, the foremost philanthropic priority of the Child Welfare Foundation is to provide other nonprofit organizations with a means to educate the public about the needs of children across the nation. To date, the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation has awarded more than $8 million dollars to organizations to assist the children of this country.

Available PowerPoint Presentations from the National Americanism Conference

2008 Conference Presentations

The American Legion Child Welfare Foundation was created by The American Legion in 1954, as a separate 501 (c) 3 corporation. Its foremost philanthropic priority is to provide other nonprofit organizations with a means to educate the public about the needs of children across this nation.