Indianapolis Legion post raises $55,000 for OCW

Legion Family members of Post 64 in Indianapolis know how to raise money for causes they believe in. Their fundraising efforts were showcased last Sunday when they raised more than $24,000 during their fifth annual Operation Comfort Warriors (OCW) fundraiser, bringing their total OCW donation for the year to more than $55,000.

The event, which has raised more than $150,000 over the past five years for the Legion’s wounded warrior support program, was initiated by Post 64 Adjutant Danny Rice in 2012 upon the election of Indiana native James Koutz as national commander. Koutz made OCW his primary fundraiser and raised more than $1 million for the program.

“(Koutz) is a very happy man when he comes to Post 64,” Rice said. “We fell in love with the OCW program when he was commander and we have been supporting it ever since. We have just taken OCW under our wing.”

Koutz attended the fundraisers, where all proceeds benefited OCW. The event, which was open to the public, included a $5 all-you-can-eat ham and bean dinner, raffle prizes of OCW T-shirts and hats, homemade quilts, military wreaths and a 50/50 raffle.

“Post 64 knows how to raise a lot of money in very little time,” Koutz said. “We have to continue helping our wounded, injured and sick veterans, and veterans receiving care at VA hospitals.”

Besides Sunday’s event, Post 64’s Legion Family members have been donating proceeds from their 50/50 raffles and other community fundraising events, such as the Legion Riders motorcycle OCW benefit ride, to surpass their last year’s OCW contribution total by nearly $30,000.

“It was a really great event and I appreciate everyone that came out to volunteer. We had a packed post,” Rice said. “And we are already starting today to raise donations for OCW.”