ALA Challenge Deck

The ALA Challenge Deck is designed for American Legion Auxiliary members to collaborate, brainstorm, and execute the programs of the Auxiliary in an engaging, team-focused way. This 46-card deck includes descriptions and links to additional resources for all of the ALA’s programs, like Americanism and Children & Youth. There are also two cards for the American Legion Auxiliary Foundation: one that explains what the Foundation is, and one designated for the Veteran Projects Fund, a granting initiative within the ALA Foundation. The Veteran Projects Fund is the ALA’s national focus for the 2024-2025 administrative year.

Each card includes examples on how Auxiliary members can engage with a particular program, as well as a QR code that links to the website or Program Engagement Plan. Many programs have multiple cards in the deck. For example, the first of two Children & Youth cards states:

Protect, care for, and support children and youth, particularly those of veterans and military families.

• Contact your local churches, homeless shelters, and food pantries and ask what the specific needs are for homeless veterans’ children and other youth. Work with your unit to meet those needs by filling the food pantry, hosting a clothing and toy drive, donating school supplies, etc.
• Plan a special celebration for children during April in honor of Children & Youth Month and Month of the Military Child (#momc). Host a party at your post and invite military kids for pizza and ice cream or a movie.
• Wear purple April 15 in honor of Purple Up! Day for Military Kids.
• Contact your local city or town council to request that April be proclaimed Month of the Military Child. Contact your local media and submit a press release regarding the proclamation.
• Perform the Military Child Table ceremony at a unit meeting or in your community. Be sure to include your Junior members.
• Host a dinner, game night, or community fair that will bring military and non-military families together.

Resources

• https://member.legion-aux.org/cmsdesk/ALA/media/PDF/Programs/Military_Children_table_setting_ceremony.pdf
• https://member.legion-aux.org/member/committees/children-and-youth
• www.ALAforVeterans.org/Coloring-Books
• https://www.legion-aux.org/cmsdesk/ALA/media/PDF/Templates/Month_of_the_Military_Child_Proclamation.pdf

Support activity

• Invite members to the presentation of the Month of the Military Child Proclamation and ask them to wear purple.
• Have members bake cupcakes and cookies decorated in purple for Purple Up! Day.
• Download and print ALA coloring books to give to children attending your events.

When your unit participates in the ALA Challenge Deck, you can discover ways to get involved in your community and make a real difference in the lives of local veterans. Your efforts, big or small, contribute to a brighter future for those who served.

When you donate $35 or more to the Veteran Projects Fund, you will receive an ALA Challenge Deck. If you would like more than one deck, please enter your gift amount in multiples of $35. For example, if you'd like three decks, please enter $105 in the gift amount field. The donation page for the card decks is here. You can also text CARD to 1-844-940-3450 or mail a check to ALA National Headquarters, 3450 Founders Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268. Please indicate in the memo line of the check that the gift is for the cards. 

If you have any questions, please contact Development Director Carley Schutz at cschutz@ALAforVeterans.org.