For the first time ever, the Glendale Police Foundation is putting on a gala to honor the Glendale Police Department on Sunday, June 25, at the Brandview Ballroom at 5 p.m.
Emceed by Ellina Abovian, GPF board member and KTLA 5 News reporter, the event will consist of live entertainment, dinner and a silent auction.
There are various opportunities to support the department by purchasing a ticket to the event for $250, treating an officer to dinner for $200 or pledging to be a sponsor. Sponsorships range from $2,500 to $25,000.
All proceeds from the 2023 Glendale Police Foundation Gala will go to funding award grants for specialized equipment and training, as well as for youth programs, collaborative community programs and the department’s K9 Unit.
The mission of the Glendale Police Foundation is to “[assist] the Glendale Police Department by providing essential resources and support necessary to foster community-police partnership and superior public safety,” as outlined on their website.
Members of the foundation come from various occupations and backgrounds ranging from business owners, doctors, attorneys, CEOs, community activists and beyond.
GPF funds numerous youth and community outreach programs. Youth programs include Students Training as Role Models designed for at-risk youth between the ages of 9 and 14, and the Teen and Police Partnership, a collaboration between the Glendale Police Department (GPD) and the Glendale Unified School District.
The foundation also funds the Explorer program for young people between the ages of 14 and 21 interested in a career in public safety. GPF also offers outreach for at-risk members in the community suffering from cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, autism and Down Syndrome, via the Project Lifesaver Program. They also provide support and nearly all funding for the K9 Unit.
First published in the June 24 print issue of the Glendale News-Press.
