The American Legion’s Operation Comfort Warriors finishes first, wins $250K in Pepsi Cola’s Refresh Everything Project

WASHINGTON – The people voted and the troops won. PepsiCo has officially announced that The American Legion’s Operation Comfort Warriors will be awarded a $250,000 grant from the soft drink giant after finishing first in voting during February’s Refresh Everything Project.

Internet voters were able to choose which of 729 competing charities would receive grants of $5,000, $25,000, $50,000 or $250,000. The top three finishers in the $250,000 category are receiving the grants.

“There are so many people to thank, I don’t know where to begin,” said American Legion National Commander Clarence E. Hill. “First, I want to thank Pepsi and its charitable Global Giving Foundation. Then I want to thank The American Legion members, American Legion Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion members and Legion Riders who supported us by spreading the word and voting. In fact, I want to thank everybody who voted for Operation Comfort Warriors.

This was truly a national grassroots effort. Most of all, I want to thank our troops, who go into harm’s way for us every day. It is their sacrifice that makes it possible for us to enjoy the freedoms we all share.”

Since December 2008, the American Legion family has raised funds for Operation Comfort Warriors, a program dedicated to meeting the needs of wounded military personnel, providing them with comfort items not usually supplied by the government. OCW ensures that patients at U.S. military hospitals and warrior transition units are given items like sweat suits, DVDs, puzzles, electronic devices, books, calling cards and more. The American Legion pays all administrative costs for the program, meaning 100 percent of the donations, including the grant money, will go directly to purchasing items for the troops.

The American Legion, a wartime veterans organization, was founded in 1919 on the four pillars of a strong national security, veterans affairs, Americanism, and youth programs. Legionnaires work for the betterment of their communities through more than 14,000 posts across the nation. For more on Operation Comfort Warriors, visit www.legion.org/ocw .