Fundraising efforts in Qulin and Poplar Bluff have helped add to a statewide American Legion scholarship collection expected to top $100,000. These education dollars go to the children of service members who were killed or disabled through service after 9/11.
A Legacy Scholarship Run was held over the weekend with about 80 motorcycles visiting southern Missouri communities. The Qulin legion hosted the riders for lunch Friday, and the Poplar Bluff legion provided a meal Saturday.
The collections will top last year's efforts, according to Brian Sapp, state captain of the American Legion riders. Nearly $73,000 was collected during the ride and additional donations are expected before the state convention in July, he said. Sapp expects to reach the $100,000 mark by then.
Missouri was second in the nation among state contributions to the Legacy Scholarship in 2017, he said. The Legacy Scholarship program provided approximately $700,000 last year to the children of service members.
"Literally 100 percent of every dollar we collect goes back out in scholarships," said Sapp. "There is zero overhead on this fund, as it's all managed by volunteers."
Qulin holds a variety of events during the year to raise money, including poker runs, said Steven Launer, director of the Qulin American Legion riders.
"It's America's future. It's kids growing up that don't have the opportunity to go to college," said Launer, who served on submarines in the U.S. Navy during the 1970s. "I'm a veteran myself. This is a way I can help other veterans that may not be as fortunate as I may be."
The Legacy Scholarship program was started in 2001 for the children of fallen, post-9/11 service members. In 2017, the program was expanded to include the children of post-9/11 veterans with a combined disability rating of 50 percent or higher.
More than $1.1 million in scholarships have been awarded since the beginning, according to the American Legion.
Donations to the scholarship fund are tax deductible, Sapp said.