Lane von Herzen: Long Term Support for America's Children

My Third Novel's Conclusion, My Heartbreak

My heart begins to break when I think about completing this particular book -- because this narrative has sustained me like no other story I've known. It's both more personal and more universal than my other works. But beyond memory and archetype, it's a cri-de-coeur about needing to become the person one is destined to be. And in the writing, I have met my own life's work, my own fated journey -- having the sense all the while that the pages are suffused with a resonance, an energy, an electrified field that defies explanation. Writers hope and pray to be overtaken by a work in this way -- to be conscripted into passionate service of a profound story. To experience it even once in a lifetime seems a great privilege. I still have several months before this novel is complete, and this constitutes my reprieve. Because I'm not ready for the beauty to end.

Sunday, July 26, 2026

Long Term Support for America's Children

OIG Hotline, this communication is to designate a gift to serve as an endowment for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, with the requirement that five percent of the total value of the endowment be distributed to local clubs each and every year following the initial gift.

The endowment is to be seen as the property of the approximately 5,500 local chapters of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, managed in their interest as beneficiaries by the national organization.

The national organization should be assisted in investing endowment funds in assets that are resistant to inflation, and profits from investments are to be reinvested on a yearly basis, assuming they are not dispersed to local clubs.

Reports on the endowment are to be provided to all local chapters of the Boys and Girls Clubs of America on a yearly basis.

To diminish the possibility of graft associated with this gift, reports on the endowment are also to be provided to the OIG Hotline on a yearly basis, with the intent of ensuring that funds are conserved for the children who are meant to benefit.

Funds distributed to local clubs are to be used for the athletic, intellectual, artistic, social and emotional wellbeing of children within the United States and the children of U.S. service members (active-duty military, National Guard, reserve personnel, and Department of Defense civilians). Where possible, transportation support to allow children to participate in enrichment activities within a given area should be provided.

Accordingly, I request that 300 billion dollars be designated for the Boys and Girls Clubs of America in order to best support the growth and development of American children.

If the Department of Defense has input with regard to the timing of this gift, I ask that it provide detailed guidance to the OIG Hotline with the intent of ensuring that the full benefits of this gift be realized.

The timing of investments in our children's wellbeing does matter. With regard to children, we always hope to demonstrate our unified support for their growth, health, and wellbeing as soon as possible.

In this case, that may require communication and coordination at the highest levels of government.

I appreciate the efforts of the OIG Hotline and others in ensuring that in the long term, America's children are nurtured, upheld, sustained, supported and protected to allow for their greatest potential to be realized.

Thank you for allowing me to specify this support for the nation's future.

Most sincerely,