WHAT:  Valley of the Sun United Way (VSUW) in partnership with the Glendale Fire Department will host a smoke alarm walk on Feb. 26 to keep families safe from house fires. Volunteers and local firefighters will walk door-to-door to install donated dual sensing smoke alarms in the neighborhoods between 54th and 57th Avenues from Glendale to Northern Avenues.

HOW:  The Glendale Smoke Alarm Walk was made possible by injury prevention grants awarded to Valley of the Sun United Way by First Things First (FTF). This Glendale-area neighborhood was identified by VSUW as a high-need at-risk area and is part of its targeted approach to school readiness. 

Specifically, the FTF injury prevention grants will provide smoke detectors in homes here young children (ages birth to five) reside.  This unique partnership reflects FTF and United Way’s mutual commitment to ensure children succeed.

Support from the Foundation for Burns and Trauma will help provide smoke alarms to Glendale residents that do not have young children living in the home. 

WHY:  Smoke detectors can help save lives. A properly installed and maintained smoke alarm can alert individuals to a life-threatening situation.  Most deadly fires in America occur during the night between, 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. 

WHEN:  Saturday, Feb. 26 
8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

WHERE: Glendale Smoke Alarm Walk
Walk Staging Area: Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 7521 North 57th Avenue, Glendale 85031
Cross Streets:   (57th and Orangewood Avenues)

WHO: Smoke Alarm Walk Partners: Glendale Fire Department, Valley of the Sun United Way, First Things First, Foundation for Burns and Trauma and United Phoenix Firefighters Association Local 493.

About Valley of the Sun United Way
Valley of the Sun United Way is working to advance the common good by focusing on education, income and health. Our goal is to create long-lasting and measurable changes that improve the quality of life for struggling individuals, families and children throughout Maricopa Country. For more information, visit www.vsuw.org

About First Things First
First Things First (FTF) approved by Arizona voters, works to ensure that our youngest children have access to quality early childhood experiences so they will start school healthy and ready to succeed. Across the state, FTF regional partnership councils – in collaboration with local leaders – identify the educational and health needs of children from birth through age 5 in their communities and fund strategies to address those needs.  www.azftf.gov