New Lottery Help For Veterans

A new initiative that was more than two years in the making is off to a strong start with our first Iowa Lottery games to benefit veterans’ causes. Veterans from around the state joined in the kick-off celebration for the new games this summer at Camp Dodge in Johnston.

Gov. Chet Culver signed a new law (HF 2359) in March that authorizes the Iowa Lottery to create two new instant-scratch game and two additional games each year, with all profits (sales – prizes = profit) from the games dedicated to the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund.

“Stars & Stripes,” the first instant-scratch game to benefit the Veterans Trust Fund, and “All American,” the first pull-tab game to benefit the fund, began sales in July. Tickets in both games cost $1 each and are proving to be popular with Iowa players.

The Lottery estimates that the new games will generate between $2 million and $3 million in proceeds annually for the Veterans Trust Fund, providing a stable, ongoing source of revenue to the fund for the first time.

Rep. McKinley Bailey, D-Webster City

State Rep. McKinley Bailey, D-Webster City, a U.S. Army veteran who served in Afghanistan and Iraq, was the main sponsor of the legislation to create the special lottery games. Bailey spoke at the kick-off event, [AUDIO: Bailey’s comments 2 min mp3.] telling those in attendance that the bottom-line goal of the initiative was to ensure ongoing assistance for those who have sacrificed so much on behalf of our country.
   
“We really wanted to find a way to make sure that the Trust Fund could receive funding every single year regardless of budget conditions, regardless of the political environment, what party was in control, if we were at war, and really just make sure that this Fund was full and stayed that way,” he said. “So no matter what’s going on, Iowa’s veterans will be taken care of. And after talking with the lottery, we really found that this idea of lottery tickets would be a great way to do that.”

John Derner, Adjutant of The
American Legion Dept. of IA

John Derner, a Gulf War veteran who now serves as Adjutant of The American Legion Department of Iowa, also spoke at the kick-off event. [AUDIO: Derner’s comments 2 min mp3.] He said the new veterans-benefit tickets provide an easy way for Iowans across the state to show their support for veterans.

“Our veterans and their families serve our country selflessly, serve our state selflessly, and this is a great chance for Iowans not only to say, ‘Thank you,’ and bring some recognition for what they do, but also to make a contribution to help them when they are in need of assistance,” he said.   

We at the Iowa Lottery are truly humbled to have the opportunity to raise money for such a noble cause and we’re thrilled to see the enthusiastic reaction to the new veterans-benefit games. When you buy tickets in the games, you know your money is going to help veterans and their families. And the first two months’ sales figures in the games tell us we’re right on target when it comes to the estimates we’ve made for the money we’ll raise for the Veterans Trust Fund.   

The Iowa Veterans Trust Fund provides assistance to qualified veterans to assist in paying expenses such as:

• Travel expenses for wounded veterans directly related to follow-up medical care;
• Job training or college tuition assistance;
• Benefits for children of disabled or deceased veterans following Sept. 11, 2001;
• And individual or family counseling programs.

To learn more about the Iowa Veterans Trust Fund, visit www.iowava.org.