Unified Arizona Veterans Inc.

The Unified Arizona Veterans Inc. (UAV) provides scholarships to 3 separate categories of veterans; KIA or disabled veterans & their families, Native American veterans, and needy veterans. 

We provide state-wide communication & assistance to Arizona's military veterans & their families through our 50+ veteran service organization members, coordinate with state & federal agencies servicing veterans including the Arizona state legislature.

Plus we manage and operate the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame.

The Unified Arizona Veterans, LLC (UAV), has earned the 2021 GuideStar Platinum Award For Transparency. It was established in 1981 by the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars, now numbers some 57 state-level Veterans Service Organizations (VSO's). In addition to actively proposing, supporting and endorsing legislation which enhances the general welfare and well-being of all Arizona military veterans, particularly those in need of health or financial assistance, the UAV is dedicated to initiating and supporting activities and objectives which stimulate love of country and recognize the significant sacrifices and contributions of our Arizona veterans.

The UAV has no paid employees, and is managed and operated totally by volunteers. Its funding is provided by individual donations, grants, and a token annual membership fee of $25, the latter to cover administrative costs.

The UAV operates a Scholarship Program designed to assist needy veterans, the immediate family of KIA or 100% disabled Veterans, and Native American Veterans. Since 2020 we gave out $60,000 in scholarships to twelve deserving students. Our goal is to sustain our Scholarship Program and continue to support deserving students.

Significant among UAV activities is the management and operation of the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame (AVHOF). This program recognizes Arizona veterans who have made clearly significant contributions to their communities, state, or nation outside of their military service. These contributions may be in the form spending countless thousands of hours volunteering to assist disabled veterans, homeless veterans, or other veterans in the need of some type of assistance. Others are recognized for actions taken in their communities either as a volunteer or as a civic leader. Still others are recognized for pro bono activities at the national and international levels. 

The AVHOF program has a threefold benefit:

1. It recognizes the significant civic achievements of our veterans outside their military service, 

2. It acts as an incentive and a catalyst for other veterans to become involved in their communities, and

3. Just as important, it educates our fellow citizens of the significant contributions that our veterans make in their communities, our state, or our nation. 

The annual budget for this program is $60,000.
The UAV partners with the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society in hosting the annual Patriotic Awards Event. This program recognizes the outstanding contributions of public and private individuals and organizations who promote and assist in the welfare and care of veterans and their families. The UAV's current annual budget for this event is $4,000.

The UAV manages and operates the Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony which is held annually at Wesley Bolan Plaza Park across from our State Capitol. Logistical and financial support for this event has been provided in the past by the Secretary of State's Office and the Arizona Department of Veteran Services. We would like to pick up the entire cost of this event, estimated at $6,000.

In addition, the UAV assists in numerous other veteran related events and programs throughout the year. One such recent event was partnering with the Greater Phoenix Chinese-American community in recognizing living World War II veterans at a VJ Day Commemoration event. This event was attended by the Chinese Plenipotentiary to the USA.