Welcome to the foundation of Mentors for Hillsborough County Veterans (MHCV). We are veterans who are dedicated to the men and women in Tampa Bay's Veterans Treatment Court (VTC).

Why We Do What We Do:

Driven by the U.S. military values of loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and moral courage, the volunteer mentors are Tampa Bay’s unsung heroes whose daily actions positively impact the well being of its local veterans and our community. They continue to pay it forward without any expectation of compensation or recognition. In fact, their “reward” is in the grateful acknowledgment from those veterans and their families and their well-being. The volunteer veteran mentors are the “quiet warriors” who will not rest until every veteran in trouble with the law is provided the needed resources to get well again and successfully reintegrate into our community.

Our Mission Statement:

To help identify, treat, rehabilitate, and to seamlessly reintegrate the veteran back into the community where he or she earlier swore to protect and defend; Serve as a platform for community awareness and education of the VTC program; Provide training and advisory support to requested VTC programs (intra and interstate levels); Advocate for pertinent Veterans legislation (local, state and federal levels).

LEADERSHIP DELIVERING RESULTS FOR OUR COMMUNITY, SERVING WITH GRACE AND DIGNITY FOR VETERANS AFTER THE WAR.

NEWS

IN THE

Name: Mentors for Hillsborough County Veterans
Address: US

2022

29 July: WFTS-ABC 28 interview on the failed US Senate vote for S3373 (PACT Act/Toxic Exposures): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyAg33tHpHM

27 June: Status of HR3967 "Toxic Exposures/Burn Pits" legislation and the impending approval and POTUS signing into law: #HR3967 #ToxicExposures #BurnPits
https://www.wfla.com/bloom/leave-no-veteran-behind/

17 June: WFTS ABC interview with Wendi Lane on the impact of HR3967 PACT Act: https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-sarasota-manatee/bill-to-help-with-burn-pit-care-moves-forward-could-help-millions-of-impacted-veterans

16 June: Senate passes historic Veterans Health legislation (HR3967 PACT Act) - House anticipates final vote enroute to POTUS for signature: https://www.politico.com/news/2022/06/16/senate-burn-pit-bill-biden-00040195

11 March: US Congresswoman Castor and Veterans Legislation Update/Roundtable:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=notif&v=1161512287987404&notif_id=16470

17770181845&notif_t=live_video_explicit

04 March: US House passes Toxic Exposures (Burn Pits) PACT Act:

https://castor.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=403796&fbclid=IwAR1mkRz5HzynmCsqHPipLWCHVb3W7hAbZNpGUqY30hdIv4sN9ZkXu17ATsA

12 January: Local Veterans' Wellness through Veterans Treatment Court and recent Burn Pits legislation signed into US Law:

https://www.baynews9.com/fl/tampa/news/2022/01/11/burn-pit-legislation?fbclid=IwAR1JachZk-HI36-UsEMf5Zy9U2GTf2dr8znHZGTTUi9qCeiM9jkE4f-DCc4

2021

22 November: Tampa VTC Judge and Mentors support Annual Thanksgiving Holiday meal delivery to VTC veterans: https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-hillsborough/veterans-deliver-turkeys-and-hope-to-troubled-vets

11 November: WFTS ABC segment on Tampa's VTC Program: https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-hillsborough/special-hillsborough-veterans-court-provides-treatment-instead-of-sending-troubled-vets-to-jail

12 October: Reverend William Corby Award: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=655211478796066

22 February: Veterans Corner Radio (Podcast):

https://www.buzzsprout.com/952243/7956091

2020

01 December: Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) "ChangeMakers" p46: https://www.moaa.org/micro/changemakers/changemakers/

26 November: Fox13 Gloria Gomez covers VTC Mentors' Annual Thanksgiving Meal Program for its VTC veterans:

https://www.fox13news.com/news/veterans-get-free-thanksgiving-dinners-with-a-side-of-gratitude

12 November: StepUpAmericaProgram.org Podcast "The Franklin Project": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYFUzlqt8jY

11 November: LTG James Peake Community Service Award (Bay Area Legal Services):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYiwOCjVSwM&feature=youtu.be

21 August: Radio Interview 1180AM WFYL (Phila, PA) on Tampa's VTC and Mentor Program:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyE2ykpZLeg&list=PLrb1ux_dsaHXMWQTpSBsY7takJfH570lR&index=2&t=0s

21 August: Pandemic Poses Challenges For Veterans Treatment Courts

https://wusfnews.wusf.usf.edu/2020-08-21/pandemic-poses-challenges-for-veterans-treatment-courts

13 August: Tampa City Councilman Viera hosted panel with VTC Judges Michael Scionti and Gregory Holder, and senior veteran mentors DJ Reyes and Jim Fletcher:

https://www.facebook.com/councilmanluis/videos/2993244120786096/?vh=e&extid=qUYuL1GJT1uZnLwl&d=n

8 August: POTUS signs VTC Legislation into law:

https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/national/military-news/president-trump-signs-veteran-treatment-court-coordination-act-into-law/67-

67253e3c-76cc-42f3-a8c5-15a7282b813f

28 July: WFLA Bloom 38 TV Interview with Gayle Guyardo on VTC and HR886

https://www.wfla.com/bloom/community-voice-on-veterans-issues/

21July HR886 VTC Bill Passed:

https://www.marinecorpstimes.com/news/your-military/2020/07/21/congress-approves-bill-giving-federal-support-to-veterans-treatment-courts/

15 July Tampa Bay Lightning Community Hero Award (Video):

https://tampabay.box.com/s/d8yavl77lxiolxi85qz1ovkx6zbru9xu (Video)

https://www.nhl.com/lightning/news/col-dj-reyes-honored-as-lightning-community-hero/c-317452512tcid=fb_news_content_id&fbclid=IwAR3u9P4mcZtSfdVvvyU_uYif8luFWEBm4yUuk41lspR2eUjtoWP8TU2iNw (press release)

22 April VTC legislation commentary: