VFW Department of Ohio donates $4,000 to families of fallen Westerville officers

Columbus, Ohio (February 15, 2018) – VFW of Ohio Charities has donated $4,000 to the families of two Westerville police officers who were slain in the line of duty this past Saturday while responding to a 911 call.

“This is a tragic loss for the officers’ families, the Westerville community and our nation,” said Bill Seagraves, Director of VFW of Ohio Charities. “Like all first responders, officers Eric Joering and Anthony Morelli courageously put themselves in harm’s way every day to protect their community, and sadly they lost their lives. We have a moral obligation to support these heroes’ families.”

The funds were donated through the CME Federal Credit Union and divided equally between each officer’s family.

VFW of Ohio Charities’ donation has been made possible through the use of a statewide charitable electronic raffle program operated by the Ohio Veterans and Fraternal Charitable Coalition (OVFCC) at posts and lodges throughout Ohio. Since it began in 2011, the video raffle program has raised over $35 million for charities.

February 15th, 2018

VFW to donate over $40,000 for hurricane relief

“Video raffle program makes it possible”

Columbus, Ohio (September 1, 2017) – VFW of Ohio Charities is teaming up with the national VFW in donating over $40,000 to help victims of Hurricane Harvey.

VFW of Ohio Charities will donate $20,000 and the national VFW will match that donation with another $20,000. Additionally, local VFW posts throughout Ohio will be donating funds through the end of September. The funds will be donated to the VFW Disaster Relief fund, and will be used to provide essential support to hurricane victims.

The storm has caused catastrophic flooding along much of the Texas coast and has displaced thousands of Texans from their homes.

“We need to rally around those whose lives have been devastated by this hurricane,” said VFW Department of Ohio Commander Robert Gianonne. “This is a practical way for us to help people get their lives back on track.”

“In tragic times such as these, it’s important for us to help our fellow Americans who are in desperate need,” said Bill Seagraves, director of the VFW of Ohio Charities. “Our hope is that this donation will provide support for those who have been forced to evacuate their homes and are without essential items like food, clothing and shelter.”

VFW of Ohio Charities’ hurricane relief donation has been made possible because of charitable video raffle games at veterans and fraternal posts throughout Ohio. Since the video raffle program began in 2011, over $30 million has been raised for charities.

“The video raffle program makes it possible for us to support hurricane victims,” said Seagraves. “Without the program, we simply could not help these victims. Prior to the video raffle, our revenues were declining year after year. With new technology and video forms of gaming, paper games are losing interest. Video raffles have given new life to our organizations’ ability to raise funds to support themselves and local charities.”

But veterans and fraternal leaders are concerned that the video raffle program is in jeopardy. In 2013, Attorney General Mike DeWine said that the program was illegal and ordered it shut down. The groups disagreed and quickly obtained a temporary restraining order allowing the program to proceed, pending a court decision, which is expected soon. The groups are hopeful they will win their court case and continue to be able to raise vital funds to support their posts and charities at no cost to taxpayers.

September 1st, 2017

$25 million raised for charity through Ohio vets and fraternals video raffle

Hundreds of Ohio charities benefit from support

Columbus, Ohio (January 11, 2017) – Ohio charities have benefited from over $25 million in revenue since 2011 thanks to a video raffle program implemented by veterans and fraternal organizations.

The Ohio Veterans and Fraternal Charitable Coalition (OVFCC) announced this week that its video raffle program has reached a major milestone by hitting the $25 million mark in funds raised for charity. They raised over $7,250,000 in 2016 alone.

The funds directly benefit veterans’ posts, fraternal lodges and hundreds of local charities. Fifty percent of the revenue supports the posts and lodges and fifty percent supports local charities in communities across Ohio.

“Our financial support of local charities is vital to their mission,” said OVFCC president Bill Seagraves. “We are honored to be able to help our communities, and the video raffle program plays a major role in making this possible.”

For the Ohio State Aerie of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, OVFCC board member and past president Jim Donaldson says that the charitable electronic raffle project is important to an effort that is near and dear to his heart.

“My special charity has been the ‘the walking machine’ project at The Ohio State’s Wexner Medical Center and their affiliate, the NeuroRecovery Network,” Donaldson said. “Much of the money in our Lew Reed Spinal Cord Injury Fund comes from Eagle clubs that participate in the charitable raffle program. During my five years on the OVFCC board, my other passion has become implementing a successful and accountable video raffle program. Since the OVFCC started that program, we have helped raise over $4 million dollars for Eagle charities and Aeries across the state. It’s a great tool for our clubs and the charities they support and continues to be a step in the right direction for our Aeries to embrace their charitable efforts, as well as pay some of our internal pressing needs.”

Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center NeuroRecovery Network patient on bodyweight-supported treadmill training.

“This electronic raffle program is going to help purchase another body-weight support system that would double the Wexner Medical Center’s treatment capacity and reduce their patient waiting list,” said Donaldson. “Isn’t that something? Just think of the impact this will have on future patients and their families.”

The electronic raffle program has caused other OVFCC member organizations to see a significant rise in revenue to their clubs and posts, allowing them to contribute back to their respective communities and charities in many ways.

Below is a sampling of just some of the important work veterans and fraternal organizations are doing to support local charitable causes that are so vital to our local communities throughout Ohio. These initiatives have been made possible through funds raised by the video raffle program:

But veterans and fraternal leaders are concerned that the video raffle program is in jeopardy. In 2013, Attorney General Mike DeWine said that the program was illegal and ordered it shut down. The groups disagreed and quickly obtained a temporary restraining order allowing the program to proceed, pending a court decision, which is expected within weeks. The groups are hopeful they will win their court case and continue to be able to raise vital funds to support their posts and charities at no cost to taxpayers.

The OVFCC is the voice of more than 2.1 million members and their families who are active in more than 1,700 posts and clubs throughout the State of Ohio. The OVFCC is an unincorporated association that was established in 2003 to achieve consensus and develop policy on various issues affecting Ohio veterans and fraternal organizations. Member organizations have input regarding charitable gaming as well as legislation, rules and regulations that impact veterans and fraternal organizations.

OVFCC President Bill Seagraves can be reached for further comment at (614) 222-1611.

For more information about the OVFCC, please visit ovfcc.org

January 11th, 2017

92-year-old Central Ohio woman offers quilting talents to brighten the lives of military veterans

Charitable electronic raffle funds help with cost of materials

Columbus, OH (October, 2016) – When Gertrude Trowbridge was eight years old she began learning the art of quilting. Since then, the Powell resident has been widely recognized for her quilting skills, winning county and state championships. But that’s not what brings her the most joy. Gertrude’s true passion is crafting handmade quilts and delivering them to the Ohio Veterans Home in Sandusky, where they are given to veterans and used as decorative bed coverings.

Gertrude’s late husband Robert Trowbridge was an Army veteran, 37^th Division where he served in the South Pacific during World War II. Six of her family members also served in the military. During the final years of his life, Mr. Trowbridge suffered from dementia and received outstanding care at the Veterans Home. Gertrude wanted to volunteer to help the home in some way to show her appreciation, but living over 100 miles away made it difficult. Then she learned the home needed bed coverings, so she put her quilting talents to work by making decorative, patriotic quilts for the home’s residents.

Although her husband passed away in 2011, Gertrude has continued making quilts. To date, she has made nearly 300 quilts for the home, and she doesn’t plan on stopping anytime soon. Her goal is to make at least 427 quilts, matching the total number of beds in the home.

Each quilt is handmade on Gertrude’s traditional style quilting frame, taking several days to complete, working many hours each day. Gertrude uses patriotic fabrics and yarns to brighten up the veterans’ rooms.

“This is my passion,” said Gertrude. “It’s about all I do. It’s a worthwhile way for me to help the veterans and show my appreciation for what they’ve done. Even though some of the residents cannot talk, they speak to you with their eyes when you see their appreciation upon receiving a handmade quilt with their name on it.”

VFW of Ohio Charities learned about Gertrude’s service when she was profiled in a Columbus Dispatch article in June 2015. The charity’s director Bill Seagraves reached out to Gertrude to help with the expenses of producing the quilts, which she had been paying for at her own expense. This year VFW of Ohio Charities has provided $1,000 to Gertrude to help with her expenses and has committed to pay for the cost of materials and travel for as long as she’s willing to make the quilts.

“With all of the hard work and countless hours Gertrude dedicates to helping brighten the lives of Ohio’s veterans in need, providing funds to pay for her materials and expenses is the least we can do,” said Seagraves.

Funding to help Gertrude and hundreds of other veterans charitable causes in Ohio is made possible by revenue generated from the Ohio Veterans and Fraternal Charitable Coalition (OVFCC) charitable electronic raffle program. In 2016 alone, the project has raised over $5 million to support posts, lodges and the charities they support. Since its inception in 2011 the charitable electronic raffle program has raised over $23 million to support posts, lodges and charitable causes.

In 2013 Attorney General Mike DeWine felt that the charitable electronic raffle program was illegal and ordered it shut down. But veterans and fraternal organizations disagreed and quickly obtained a temporary restraining order allowing the program to proceed, pending a court trial which is set for later this month. The OVFCC and their charities are hopeful they will win their court case and continue to be able to raise vital funds from their members to support their posts and charities at no cost to taxpayers.

October 6th, 2016

Ohio video raffle program reaches $20 million mark for charities

Hundreds of local charities throughout Ohio benefit from support

Columbus, Ohio (April 25, 2016) – The Ohio Veterans and Fraternal Charitable Coalition (OVFCC) announced this week that its video raffle program has reached a major milestone by hitting the $20 million mark in funds raised for charity.

The funds directly benefit veterans’ posts, fraternal lodges and hundreds of local 501(c)(3) charities; fifty percent of the revenue supports the posts and lodges and fifty percent supports local charities in communities across Ohio.

“This is very exiting news for our organizations and the charities we support,” said Merle Pratt of the Ohio AMVETS and secretary of the OVFCC. “Our charitable work is very important to our overall mission, and the video raffle proceeds are a critical part of our success.”

Attorney General Mike DeWine has said the program is illegal and ordered it shut down in 2013. Veterans and fraternal organizations disagreed and quickly obtained a temporary restraining order allowing the program to proceed, pending a court trial, which is set for later this year. The groups are hopeful they will win their court case and continue to be able to raise vital funds to support their posts and charities at no cost to taxpayers. “It would be highly unfortunate if the charities we support were to lose vital funding because of state government leaders misinterpreting Ohio law,” said OVFCC president Bill Seagraves. “No other form of gaming supports charities at this level and has such a positive impact on our communities. We provide help for many who are at the end of their rope with no place else to turn.”

April 25th, 2016

Video raffle program continues to fund oxygen therapy for injured veterans

Veterans receiving innovative oxygen therapy thanks to charitable video raffle program

Columbus, Ohio (January 13, 2016) – Veterans who have received difficult to heal acute wounds or traumatic brain injuries while serving in the military are receiving help through funding provided by a veterans and fraternal video raffle program.

In April of 2015, VFW of Ohio Charities (VFWOC) began funding experimental Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) treatments for veterans suffering from war-related injuries in partnership with Sara’s Garden, a treatment center in Wauseon, Ohio.

The treatments have been funded with revenue generated by the Ohio Veterans and Fraternal Charitable Coalition (OVFCC) charitable video raffle program. Since its inception in 2011, the program has raised over $18 million to support posts, lodges and charitable causes like HBOT treatments.

HBOT is the administration of 100% oxygen in the presence of pressure, which can help the body heal from conditions in which low oxygen in the tissues inhibits or complicates the healing process. Since HBOT is still considered experimental, traditional health care usually does not cover treatments.

The VFWOC became aware of the potential of HBOT to change injured veterans’ lives and decided to fund treatments for a few military patients in order to evaluate its effectiveness. Several veterans and active duty personnel have now been treated with great success.

The first veteran to receive treatments through VFWOC funding was Jeremy Lanham, who served two tours in Iraq with the Army where he was exposed to several large explosions, receiving multiple concussions and suffering injuries to his brain. The injuries went untreated for some time, and as a result, Jeremy suffered extreme migraine headaches and was unable to sleep for years. Jeremy received an intensive regimen of two one-hour treatments per day for eight weeks. Since completing his treatments, Jeremy has experienced no severe headaches and has regained the ability to sleep soundly for extended periods of time.

“I haven’t had that in years and years, and it’s had a massive impact on my ability to function every day,” says Jeremy.

Click HERE to see a video interview with Jeremy about his progress.

Andrew Rupp is still actively serving in the Army and is currently in the process of recovering from surgery and an infection at a hospital at Fort Bragg. The VFWOC funded HBOT treatments for Andrew to help his body heal.

“You and this organization have given me more than I am able to repay,” said Andrew. “I want to thank you for providing me with the opportunity to heal. I am slotted to attend Ranger Assessment in April, and with out these treatments I would not have been ready to be successful and continue my Army career.”

Brock Dodrill is a Toledo-area Army veteran who suffers from PTSD. He received 40 treatments and has shown tremendous improvement. His father Brad says that while he is not willing to claim Brock’s symptoms have completely subsided, he and his wife Sherry “better recognize Brock as the son we knew prior to Iraq.”

“We are excited about the impact this program is having on the quality of life of our veterans,” said Bill Seagraves, Director of VFW of Ohio Charities. “As we become aware of veterans who might benefit from HBOT treatments, we will continue to fund the treatments as much as we are able. And we will push forward with our lawsuit in order to maintain our ability to provide funding for vital programs.”

January 13th, 2016

Major milestone reached by OVFCC over Labor Day weekend

Over $16 million raised since program started; over $4 million raised for charity year-to-date

This past Labor Day weekend the Ohio Veterans and Fraternal Charitable Coalition’s charitable video raffle program hit another major milestone; $16 million raised for our members and the charities they support. Even more impressive is that the program has raised over $4 million for charity this year alone! This is truly remarkable and could not have been accomplished without the support of our organizations and their individual members. It is a great example of veterans and their supporters helping veterans in need!

The charitable video raffle program has been operating under a temporary restraining order against the State of Ohio since December of 2013 after abiding by the Attorney General’s request to shut down the program. Since receiving the TRO, the program has generated in excess of $9.4 million for our organizations and their charities.

September 9th, 2015

Buckeye Pride in Action
Helping Those in Need.

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