Foundation of the 1st Cavalry Division Association

**Foundation Overview** The Foundation of the 1st Cavalry Division Association was established for the purpose of providing financial assistance in the form of scholarship grants toward the pursuit of an advanced education. These grants are reserved for children of those Soldiers of the 1st Cavalry Division who died, or were totally and permanently disabled as a result of wounds received or disease contracted while serving with the 1st Cavalry Division in any armed conflict. Additionally, children of members of the Association who die while serving with the 1st Cavalry Division in peacetime and active duty Soldiers currently assigned or attached to the 1st Cavalry Division and their spouses are eligible to receive scholarship grants. The Foundation also administers a separate program for descendants of Soldiers who served in designated qualifying units that were involved in the battles of the Ia Drang valley during the period 3 through 19 November 1965. The Foundation of the 1st Cavalry Division Association is a tax-exempt charitable organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and all donations are tax-deductible. The Foundation’s tax identification number is 23-7016417 **Background** The scholarship program was initiated by the Association in 1967 during the Vietnam War in response to requests from the Sergeants Major of the Division who committed their support to perpetuation of the program. A trust agreement was signed on 16 August 1968 establishing the Foundation. Since that time, no child of a Trooper that has been killed or disabled has been turned away for lack of funds. Between the generous donations of Association members and scholarship drives within the Division, the First Team has taken care of its own. In the 1970s, in response to a perceived downtrend in applications from the aging children of the Division’s Troopers that were killed in action from the Vietnam war, eligibility was expanded to children of Association members killed or disabled while on active duty with the Division. This extension produced an unexpected response from Vietnam Veterans who were still producing children. In 1988, again at the behest of the Division Sergeants Major, the program was expanded further to include Soldiers and spouses of Soldiers while assigned or attached to the Division. The Foundation assumed responsibility for the Ia Drang program in early 1994 and awarded the first grant from this program in 1997.