Veteran Hiring Expo in Hoffman Estates draws 300 area people
On May 15, Chicago area businesses came together to honor and support area veterans by participating in the Veteran Hiring Expo: Welcome Home to Careers and Resources. The event took place at the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates and included 75 employers, 15 colleges and universities, and more than 60 nonprofit or government agencies.
The focus was to connect veterans with employment opportunities, resources, and services. The 300 veterans that attended were provided an opportunity to meet employees and have on-site job interviews. Attendees also enjoyed complementary lunch, free tickets for the Schaumburg Boomers and Chicago Sky and a performance by the Jesse White Tumblers.
In addition, Miss Chicago Marisa Buchheit performed the national anthem and taps was played by Michael Brady from Bugles Across America.
Illinois has more than 744,000 veterans and many are struggling to find work. According to the SOCIAL Impact Research Center, more than 78 percent of recent veterans in Illinois are in their 30s and younger and 46 percent earn less than $30,000 annually.
Illinois had the fourth highest unemployment rate for new veterans in 2010 at 13 percent.
In response to these statistics, the following organizations collaborated to create this event: Serving All Veterans Equally (SAVE), the Keeling Family Foundation-VetTech. U.S., Pritzker Military Museum & Library, HandsOn Suburban Chicago, the 85th Support Command, Illinois Department of Employment Security, Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital and others.
HandsOn Suburban Chicago managed the volunteer operations for the event and received a $2,500 grant from the Keeling Family Foundation.
Key event sponsors included Sam's Club, Kraft, Walmart and the Chicago Sky, with additional contributions and in-kind donations from many local businesses.
There will be two additional Veteran Hiring Expos in the coming months. The next will be hosted at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont Aug. 6. To find out more information, visit www.VeteranHiringExpo.org.
For more than 40 years, HandsOn Suburban Chicago has been inspiring, equipping and mobilizing people to volunteer and take action that builds vibrant and prosperous communities. HOSC recruits and refers 10,000 volunteers annually to more than 200 member agency nonprofits and schools, and provides other support to local charitable organizations such as consultations and trainings.
A nonprofit 501(c)(3) agency and part of the national HandsOn Network, HOSC service area includes 44 core communities in Chicagoland and a population of more than 1.4 million residents.
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