Glendale’s seventh annual “Stand Up for Veterans” will be held at Glendale Community College, 6000 W. Olive Ave., Saturday, Sept. 21, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. This event is designed to provide ample opportunities for veterans to access services tailored to their life experiences and needs, in a central location and has touched the lives of over 1,000 veterans since its inception.
“I continue to be impressed with the success of this event, year over year. I am grateful the community continues to come together to assist our veterans and their families” said Glendale Mayor Jerry P. Weiers who initiated the Glendale Stand Up event seven years ago.
Mayor Jerry P. Weiers along with the Glendale Chamber of Commerce’s Military & Veteran Affairs Committee (MVAC), actively coordinates and promotes the event. MVAC is a local committee representing city, state and federal agencies, local businesses and nonprofit partners who organize and execute the events and initiatives that benefit veterans throughout the West Valley. The primary funding for the event is provided by a grant from the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services and is administered by the Sandy Coor Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1433. With the full support of Glendale Community College and their willingness to accommodate the event, Veterans can receive a multitude of services in one centralized location.
A critical service available to veterans at the event is access to court and legal services. Glendale City Court Presiding Judge Elizabeth Finn will represent 23 Arizona municipal courts where veterans with criminal and civil cases may be able to satisfy outstanding court fines and fees by performing a community service work project. Veterans with active arrest warrants on criminal misdemeanors can have those warrants quashed. Judges representing many additional Justice Courts in Maricopa County will also be present to offer similar opportunities to reduce or eliminate court fines through community service. Glendale’s Community Services Department will provide transportation from Glendale Community College to Historic Sahuaro Ranch Park, where the community work service project will take place.
“Someone with a suspended driver’s license is often prevented from securing appropriate employment. We can help change the dynamic by providing on-site community restitution benefiting the city of Glendale. Almost all the 23 city courts I represent, and the justice courts will honor our community service to eliminate fines allowing a person to obtain a driver’s license and hopefully a great job.[,]“ said Judge Finn.
The Arizona Motor Vehicle Division will also be present to advise veterans of requirements for reinstatement of their driving privileges and other MVD business. Additionally, Glendale’s Prosecutors Office and members of the State Bar of Arizona will provide free consultations for civil matters while attorneys from the Maricopa County Public Defender’s Office will be available for felony matters.
The Glendale Community College’s Veteran Services Center will be open during the event. The center provides veteran and military students and their families one-on-one help with enrolling in college and staying on the path of success. The VSC offers services including admissions, financial aid, advisement, career services, referrals and specific military-related resources.
“The annual Stand Up for Veterans is an important program and we are proud to partner with the city of Glendale. We are grateful for the service and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans which is why GCC is dedicated to serving those who have served us – through the Stand up for Veterans event, along with the assistance our Veterans Services Center provides, on a daily basis,” Said Dr. Teresa Leyba Ruiz, President GCC
At least 40 employers, presently hiring, will be on-site with representatives and interviewers at the event and over sixty Veterans Service Organizations will be on-site providing free information regarding services provided to veterans. Veterans can apply for health care and other benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and social service agencies. The city of Glendale Community Action Program (CAP) will also be in attendance as they regularly assist veterans in need. Nonprofits will assist with family and personal matters.
Rolfs Salon will provide free haircuts to participants and Republic Services will be generously providing lunch to all attendees in their trademark sanitation truck style barbecue grill.
For event information or to become a community partner, visit www.GlendaleStandUp.org.
