One famous pinup character is about to mount a comeback in order to help American troops. Betty Boop, the iconic cartoon character who thrived during the 1930's, will return in November to be a part of the Kansas Lottery's Veterans Benefit scratch ticket series.
The series, launched in 2003, supports veterans programs by directly contributing all profits from the production and sale of the tickets to different causes. The tickets have raised nearly $4 million since the start of their run. However, due to Kansas's gaming law, that was not entirely easy. As Sally Lunsford, a Kansas Lottery spokesperson, pointed out, it took a significant effort to change the policy.
"The (state) legislature had to approve these games," she said.
The funds raised from the sale of the tickets go to various resources providing veterans with medical aid, living accommodations, and even proper burial arrangements. However, the program that receives the bulk of funds are the Kansas National Guard Educational Assistance Act scholarships. Lunsford said the scholarships were designed to aid returning veterans of current foreign conflict theatres to college classrooms.
Though he served in the Navy and not the National Guard, Douglas County veterans service representative Matthew Fowler benefited from the same type of program when he returned to the University of Kansas after his term of service.
"I got a good, solid education," Fowler said.
As a service representative for the Kansas Commission on Veterans' Affairs, it is Fowler's job to travel around Douglas County to be an advocate for veterans, to ensure that they take full advantage of any and all opportunities that are available to them. But, as a catchall service member, Fowler said he does interact with a diverse group of veterans.
"It can range from anything from a Vietnam veteran to a recently retired veteran who has recently returned," he said.
To Fowler, the job is entirely about making other people's lives easier.
"Unless you're doing something like that," he said, "you're not worth much."
He did admit, however, that no matter where people stand on issues of veterans' affairs, there are going to be those who disagree on matters of funding.
"Obviously," he said, "someone's going to think it's too much and someone's going to think it's too little."
But more help is on the way. The Betty Boop tickets, along with a new ticket portraying the mascots of all the branches of the U.S. armed forces, are in production to be released in November and next spring, respectively. These designs then join the ranks of Veterans Celebration, Veterans Bucks, and Veterans Cash already in circulation among some 1,800 retailers.
As Ed Van Patten, Kansas Lottery Executive Director, said in a release, he is just glad they can do their part
"The Lottery is proud that the revenue generated from the sale of these tickets stays right here in Kansas to benefit our Kansas Veterans," he said. "We are grateful for our players' positive response to Veterans Benefit tickets in the past, and we ask for their support in the future."
The series, launched in 2003, supports veterans programs by directly contributing all profits from the production and sale of the tickets to different causes. The tickets have raised nearly $4 million since the start of their run. However, due to Kansas's gaming law, that was not entirely easy. As Sally Lunsford, a Kansas Lottery spokesperson, pointed out, it took a significant effort to change the policy.
"The (state) legislature had to approve these games," she said.
The funds raised from the sale of the tickets go to various resources providing veterans with medical aid, living accommodations, and even proper burial arrangements. However, the program that receives the bulk of funds are the Kansas National Guard Educational Assistance Act scholarships. Lunsford said the scholarships were designed to aid returning veterans of current foreign conflict theatres to college classrooms.
Though he served in the Navy and not the National Guard, Douglas County veterans service representative Matthew Fowler benefited from the same type of program when he returned to the University of Kansas after his term of service.
"I got a good, solid education," Fowler said.
As a service representative for the Kansas Commission on Veterans' Affairs, it is Fowler's job to travel around Douglas County to be an advocate for veterans, to ensure that they take full advantage of any and all opportunities that are available to them. But, as a catchall service member, Fowler said he does interact with a diverse group of veterans.
"It can range from anything from a Vietnam veteran to a recently retired veteran who has recently returned," he said.
To Fowler, the job is entirely about making other people's lives easier.
"Unless you're doing something like that," he said, "you're not worth much."
He did admit, however, that no matter where people stand on issues of veterans' affairs, there are going to be those who disagree on matters of funding.
"Obviously," he said, "someone's going to think it's too much and someone's going to think it's too little."
But more help is on the way. The Betty Boop tickets, along with a new ticket portraying the mascots of all the branches of the U.S. armed forces, are in production to be released in November and next spring, respectively. These designs then join the ranks of Veterans Celebration, Veterans Bucks, and Veterans Cash already in circulation among some 1,800 retailers.
As Ed Van Patten, Kansas Lottery Executive Director, said in a release, he is just glad they can do their part
"The Lottery is proud that the revenue generated from the sale of these tickets stays right here in Kansas to benefit our Kansas Veterans," he said. "We are grateful for our players' positive response to Veterans Benefit tickets in the past, and we ask for their support in the future."
Leave a comment