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Copyright © 2008 The G.I. Go Fund, Inc. All rights reserved.
The G.I. Go Fund
Where Veterans Go Forward
G.I. Go Fund helps New Jersey Veterans find employment
The G.I. Go Fund, along with Senator Bob Menendez and leaders from the city of Newark, hosted the first
annual New Jersey Veterans and Family Job Fair yesterday afternoon at the Campus Center of the New
Jersey Institute of Technology.
In a day designed to link our veterans with opportunities for gainful employment, over 300 servicemen and
women, along with their families, had the chance to meet face to face with over 40 different businesses and
organizations and show what they can offer to their respected fields. The potential employers included
businesses like Coca-Cola and agencies like the FBI, all of whom acknowledged the tremendous skill set
that our nation’s veterans bring with them.
“They bring a tremendous amount of discipline, reliability, and organization, and there’s just a certain pride
that they put into there work that makes it very appealing,” said Anthony Dixon, a field recruiter for Coca-
Cola.
Several veterans said they felt honored to have a job fair tailored to them. Too often, they feel that their
status as veterans is not considered to be relevant by potential employers.
Newark resident James Sinclair, 40, who was accompanied at the fair by his 3 and 6 year old sons, said the
unemployment office didn't even consider his service in Operation Desert Storm when he went seeking help
last month.
“The guys give you the same list as everyone else,” Sinclair said. It was important to him, as well as many
of the other men and women at the job fair, to know that there are employers who do recognize the added
benefit that exists when you employ a veteran.
Along with the employment opportunities offered yesterday, Senator Menedez gave his thoughts in his
speech to those in attendance on the importance of ensuring that our veterans have a good and steady
career.
“When a soldier goes off to war, if we can look them in the eye and tell them that there is a good reason
why we are waving goodbye, then we had better look them in the eye when they come back and tell them
that we meant it when we said, ‘Welcome Home’,” the Senator said.
In addition, G.I. Go President Jack Fanous offered a strong message to all employers at the event, as well
as those who were not, regarding what veterans can bring to any job that is available.
“Employers need to know, and they should consider today, that a career in the military is the equivalent of
having a degree from Harvard or Yale, because nobody will work harder, and with more dedication, then
the men and women you see before you today,” said Fanous.
He later added that, given the success of this job fair, that more are likely to come.
“This event just showed that there is a strong interest on both sides, the veteran and the employer, to work
together. All that was missing was the proper forum. Given the turnout and the positive responses we
received from the veterans and the veterans services community, we hope to hold more job fairs in the
future and help them get the work they earned long before they came here,” he said.
The G.I. Go Fund, along with Senator Bob Menendez and leaders from the city of Newark, hosted the first
annual New Jersey Veterans and Family Job Fair yesterday afternoon at the Campus Center of the New
Jersey Institute of Technology.
In a day designed to link our veterans with opportunities for gainful employment, over 300 servicemen and
women, along with their families, had the chance to meet face to face with over 40 different businesses and
organizations and show what they can offer to their respected fields. The potential employers included
businesses like Coca-Cola and agencies like the FBI, all of whom acknowledged the tremendous skill set
that our nation’s veterans bring with them.
“They bring a tremendous amount of discipline, reliability, and organization, and there’s just a certain pride
that they put into there work that makes it very appealing,” said Anthony Dixon, a field recruiter for Coca-
Cola.
Several veterans said they felt honored to have a job fair tailored to them. Too often, they feel that their
status as veterans is not considered to be relevant by potential employers.
Newark resident James Sinclair, 40, who was accompanied at the fair by his 3 and 6 year old sons, said the
unemployment office didn't even consider his service in Operation Desert Storm when he went seeking help
last month.
“The guys give you the same list as everyone else,” Sinclair said. It was important to him, as well as many
of the other men and women at the job fair, to know that there are employers who do recognize the added
benefit that exists when you employ a veteran.
Along with the employment opportunities offered yesterday, Senator Menedez gave his thoughts in his
speech to those in attendance on the importance of ensuring that our veterans have a good and steady
career.
“When a soldier goes off to war, if we can look them in the eye and tell them that there is a good reason
why we are waving goodbye, then we had better look them in the eye when they come back and tell them
that we meant it when we said, ‘Welcome Home’,” the Senator said.
In addition, G.I. Go President Jack Fanous offered a strong message to all employers at the event, as well
as those who were not, regarding what veterans can bring to any job that is available.
“Employers need to know, and they should consider today, that a career in the military is the equivalent of
having a degree from Harvard or Yale, because nobody will work harder, and with more dedication, then
the men and women you see before you today,” said Fanous.
He later added that, given the success of this job fair, that more are likely to come.
“This event just showed that there is a strong interest on both sides, the veteran and the employer, to work
together. All that was missing was the proper forum. Given the turnout and the positive responses we
received from the veterans and the veterans services community, we hope to hold more job fairs in the
future and help them get the work they earned long before they came here,” he said.
