American Legion Post 716 has stood as a lifeline for veterans throughout Orange County and the greater Los Angeles area for over six decades, but we're at a critical juncture. Every day in America, 17.6 veterans take their own lives and 54.4% of veterans who died by suicide had no contact with VA services in the five years before their death.

Serving a 15-mile radius from Los Alamitos that includes communities throughout Orange County and parts of LA County—including Long Beach, Seal Beach, Garden Grove, Westminster, Cypress, and beyond—Post 716 reaches thousands of veterans who need connection, support, and hope.

Orange County alone is home to approximately 80,000 veterans, with an additional 13,000 veterans residing in Long Beach CA. Through proactive buddy checks, mental health intervention, and a judgment-free safe space, we save lives by showing up before crisis strikes.

Our Auxiliary Unit 716 supports military families with emergency assistance, hospital visitations, and scholarships while our Riders honor fallen heroes and raise thousands for charitable causes throughout Southern California. Our Sons of the American Legion mentor youth and ensure the legacy of service continues for generations.

Beyond local impact, we contribute to national programs including Operation Comfort Warriors providing morale-enhancing gifts to wounded service members, the National Emergency Fund that has delivered over $11 million in disaster relief, and the Child Well-Being Foundation that has awarded over $21 million in grants to youth-serving organizations since 1954.

Our most critical need is replenishing our emergency micro-grant program, which provides immediate assistance when veterans and active-duty service members face eviction, utility shutoffs, transportation breakdowns, food insecurity, or medical expenses they cannot afford.

This fund is exhausted, yet the need has never been greater. We also need resources to expand our suicide prevention training, enhance our facilities as a welcoming safe space, grow our buddy check program to reach the majority of at-risk veterans not connected to VA services throughout our 15-mile service area, and strengthen all our programs—from Auxiliary family support to Riders' charitable work to Sons' youth engagement.

Every dollar you contribute directly funds programs that save lives, keep families housed, honor the fallen, and ensure no veteran stands alone in their darkest moment. The men and women who wore our nation's uniform didn't hesitate when called to serve—now they need us. Will you answer the call?