• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Lois Pope Presents Check for $5 Million to American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial

Posted on: Monday, 1 December 2008, 17:42 CST

PALM BEACH, Fla., Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Expressing deep gratitude for the enormous sacrifices made by the three million living disabled American veterans, including the more than 53,000 who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan, philanthropist Lois Pope presented today a check for $5 million to help build the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial. To be constructed on a two-acre plot in Washington D.C., the Memorial will be the first permanent national tribute to the living disabled veterans, as well as the countless thousands who have since died and will come in the future.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081201/NY49256 )

"This is the perfect season to give thanks to disabled veterans for their sacrifices not only in the current war on terrorism, but in all our nation's conflicts. No single individual is as dedicated to showing appreciation in such a meaningful way as Lois Pope," said Arthur H. Wilson, National Adjutant of the Disabled American Veterans. With more than 1.2 million members, the DAV is the largest organization of disabled veterans.

"Like many of who came home disabled from Vietnam, I thought the sacrifices we had made were going to be in vain," said Dennis Joyner, a triple amputee. "When I met Lois Pope and learned of her vision for the Memorial, I knew that the scars and injuries we had suffered would never be marginalized or forgotten. To me, and all of us disabled in war, Lois is a real American hero."

The check from Mrs. Pope is payment on a $10 million challenge grant she made in 2006 to the Disabled Veterans LIFE Memorial Foundation, the organization spearheading the fundraising to build the Memorial. Through the challenge grant, the Foundation had to raise $5 million, which Mrs. Pope would match on a dollar-for-dollar basis. This goal was achieved on Oct. 31.

"I am so pleased to honor my commitment," Mrs. Pope said. "All of these courageous men and women have sacrificed parts of their bodies, and in some cases their minds, upholding the democratic freedoms we so cherish and enjoy. We owe them our deepest thanks. This check is just my down payment in expressing my gratitude."

In fact, Mr. Wilson pointed out that Mrs. Pope is the largest single donor to the Memorial, having contributed in excess of $8.6 million towards its construction and endowment.

SOURCE Lois Pope Foundation

Source: PR Newswire

More News in this Category