Disabled American Veterans (DAV) was founded at a Christmas party hosted in 1919 by then-Cincinnati Superior Court Judge Robert Marx. It began operations even before its forerunner, the Disabled American Veterans of the World War (DAVWW), was officially created by the United States Congress in 1920.
The organization provides a lifetime of financial assistance and essential services at no cost to over a million disabled veterans of the United States Armed Forces, as well as their families. One of the free services it offers to disabled veterans is transportation to and from medical facilities accredited with the US Department of Veterans Affairs.
DAV has several outreach programs, including an initiative which aids homeless veterans. The organization offers relief drafts and supply kits to disabled veterans and their families, in case of natural disasters. DAV also advocates for legislation benefiting military veterans.