KANSAS
CITY, Mo. – The Veterans of
Foreign Wars (VFW) Foundation is pleased to announce it will award a $25,000
grant to the Michael G. Reagan Portrait Foundation on Feb. 8 at 12:30
p.m. VFW Department of Washington Commander Krist Huseby will officiate a
formal check presentation from the VFW Foundation to Michael Reagan in an
open-to-the-public ceremony at the Snohomish County
Senior Center in Edmonds, Wash.
Reagan is an internationally-recognized artist who over the last three
decades has been commissioned to draw portraits of numerous celebrities, professional
athletes, U.S. presidents and other heads of state. For the last several years
Reagan has volunteered his talents and dedicated his life to drawing portraits
of America’s fallen military heroes. He has created more than 3,100 original
hand-drawn renditions that are provided free-of-charge to the families of all
U.S. service members killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. During this time he has
invested over 3,500 hours annually and incurred numerous expenses without
taking a salary.
“Our organization is incredibly proud to assist such a patriotic and selfless
individual like Mr. Reagan. Through his art he has helped improve the spirits
of military families who find solace in the beauty of his work and in the
dignified compassion he shows in remembrance of their loved ones,” said Allen
F. Kent, VFW Adjutant General and VFW Foundation Board President.
Reagan is a Vietnam veteran and member of VFW Post 8870 in Edmonds, Wash. He
received the VFW’s Commander-in-Chief Gold Medal of Merit Award in 2009.
About Veterans of Foreign Wars
Foundation
The Veterans of Foreign Wars Foundation is the official charity of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, America’s oldest and largest
organization for combat veterans. Our mission is to support programs and services
that secure, manage and distribute resources to improve the lives of veterans,
military service personnel, their families and the communities where they live.
This outreach includes financial assistance to military families in urgent
need, regular phone calls for U.S. troops overseas such as those serving in
Afghanistan, morale boosting “welcome home,” “send-off” and VIP treatment at
sporting and entertainment events for military units, and help for veterans in
their often difficult VA entitlement cases for injuries incurred while in
active duty. These programs and services are provided at no cost to the
recipients and no VFW membership is required. The VFW Foundation is one of the
nation’s highest rated 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. For more information,
please visit www.vfwfoundation.org
About the Michael G. Reagan Portrait Foundation
The mission of the Michael G. Reagan Foundation is
to honor America’s Fallen Heroes for their ultimate sacrifice protecting our
freedoms. The Foundation provides the financial resources through the
collection of donations to produce and distribute to each family a hand-drawn
portrait of their Fallen Hero, created by Mr. Reagan, free of charge. Each
portrait is intended to show the fullness of the artist’s love and respect to
these individuals and their families. Additional information on Mr. Reagan and
his Foundation including a contribution option can be found at http://www.fallenheroesproject.org/