Event Name: Focus Comics, United Humanities Project Heroes Art Exhibition, Awards and Graduation Ceremony.
The Heroes event honor military (active and veterans), and first responders for their courage; sacrifice, selfless service, patriotism, kindness, compassion and leadership. The event celebrates autism acceptance month by celebrating the accomplishments of young autistic and special needs talent within the community for those graduating on the free Hero art program. Local heroes are presented their honors on stage in recognition of those who protect our liberties freedoms and justice.
Open to: The General Public
Admission: Free
Award Recipients:
Congratulations to our United Humanities Project 2026 Hero award recipients:
Gary Michiel Montiel US Army E4 2001-2005.
David Shuler : USMC E4 1998-2002.
Robert Charles Taylor : USMC Corporal E4 1961-1966
Carlos Emilio Lopez Hernandez : USAF Fire Service Engineer : SSgt E5
James Deck :US Navy E3 1985-1993.
Adrian Robin Hakes USCG Petty officer 2nd class E5 2019-2025
Kelly Sullivan, AZDPS Trooper #5935
Vance Stein, AZDPS Trooper #11724
Congratulations to our autistic and special needs students for graduating on the free Focus comic hero art program celebrating autism awarenss month. We look forward to celebrating their accomplishments at the event. All graduates will receive gifts from all branches of the military and first responder agencies.
Agencies / Military reps attending: Avondale Fire Department. AZDPS. Army. Marines. Navy. US Air Force. USCG.
Dignitary: Mayor of Goodyear.
Trophies: 8.
Legacy Portraits: 8
Military Challenge coins: 8
Photographers: 3
Broadcast film maker: 1
Hero themed Agency Vehicles for the graduates to explore at the event: 4
All military agencies and government agencies will have fun activities to engage our students at the event.
Date of Award ceremony: Saturday May 2nd. Event officially starts at 3pm. Our photographers arrive at 2pm to offer our students and their families and dignitaries complimentary photoshoots.
Where: Zinc Apartments club house. 2005 North 103rd Avenue unit 7104
Avondale, Arizona 85392
Ceremonies: The USAF honor guard will perform the Presentation of Colors during the National Anthem. Pastor Holmes will sing the national anthem on stage.
8 Heroes Award recipients will receive a complimentary legends portrait by award winning artist Yvonne Wan, a certificate of honor signed by our dignitaries, trophies and challenge coins, plus a complimentary Photoshoot. Yvonne Wan will create a broadcast standard highlights film so everyone can remember their special day.
Artist:
- Yvonne Wan, Award winning artist, certified social cultural anthropologist and Focus comic creator.
The legacy portraits will be gifted to the award recipients at the event.
Yvonne Wan will also be on exhibiting her Sports hero art at the event as part of a fundraiser for the humanitarian project supporting autistic and special needs kids and honoring heroes. The original art will be up for silent auction at the event and a limited number of prints will be available for purchase. All proceeds will go towards supporting autistic and special needs kids. The art exhibition ends at 6pm. Online and telephone bids are accepted. Please Contact yvonne@focuscomic if you have any questions.
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