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About the trainers

View photos from 2007, 2008 and 2009 Swift Justice

The Katharine and George Alexander Community Law Center (KGACLC) is excited to once again participate in a local marathon/half-marathon.

This will be the 4th year that the KGACLC runs as a charitable organization under the banner of Swift Justice. We invite you to be part of this exciting opportunity!

You can feel great about your participation by:

You commit to "Swift Justice" by setting the goal of running or walking any of the runs described at www.mhmarathon.com.    You decide how much money you want to raise for the KGACLC among your family, colleagues and friends.

Sign up today so you can start training right away!

Any questions? Please check the FAQ section below. If your question is not resolved, please send an e-mail to smlopez@scu.edu.

Participation Levels

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Sign up

Download these forms  (PDF, 220KB), fill them out and fax them to the KGACLC, Attn: Sergio Lopez. Our fax number is (408) 288-3581.

Please keep these things in mind:

• *  Don't forget to select the type of run and your participation category in one of the downloaded documents.
•  
• *  Your e-mail address and/or phone number are extremely useful in case we need to clarify anything on your forms, so please include at least one of them
•  
• *  Please note that unsigned forms will not be processed.

That's it! We'll take care of signing you up to the Marathon, Half-Marathon or the 5K, whichever your prefer.

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FAQs Section

What is the KGACLC?

Santa Clara University aims to educate the whole person while giving back to the community. That mission is accomplished every day at the Katharine and George Alexander Community Law Center, which is part of the Civil Clinical Programs at Santa Clara University School of Law. The Community Law Center advises, counsels, and often represents low-income clients in the areas of Worker’s Rights, Immigration, and Consumer Rights. Staffed by experienced attorneys, the KGACLC is a perfect vehicle for Santa Clara law students to gain hands-on experience in the practice of law while serving the needs of our community.

Why does the KGACLC need my support?

The KGACLC provides all of its legal services totally free for qualifying individuals — and that’s rare in this geographical area where legal services are simply out of reach for many people. In order to do its work, the Law Center depends mostly on non-university dollars. Every year it must request government and private grants, as well as individual contributions from generous people like yourself. Your contribution is key to the Law Center’s ability to offer its services. Please join us in these runs to stay in shape and to help the Community Law Center achieve its mission.

So do I register on the Morgan Hill Marathon+Half webpage or do I register with the KGACLC ?

You only need to register with the KGACLC. We'll be your interface with the marathon's organizers. Simply fax the registration form to the KGACLC at (408) 288-3581, Attn: Sergio.   You may also send your registration forms to:

KGACLC/SCU School of Law

Attn: Sergio Lopez

1030 The Alameda

San Jose, CA 95126

 
What's in it for me if I sign up?

Not only do you stay in shape, but you get to train under the expert supervision of none other than Felipe Montoro, the Cross Country Head Coach at Santa Clara University. His years of experience as a couch and as a runner will get you in top shape for this run.

Do I have to have all the money raised when I sign up?

Nope. You can sign up anytime and submit your pledged amount later.

The deadline for all pledge submissions is October 15, 2011.

So you mentioned training sessions with Felipe Montoro.  When are those sessions taking place?

These dates are to be announced but, in the past, we've met weekly on the SCU campus, usually around 6PM on a Wednesday or Thursday.

Look for us on Facebook (KGACLC) and send us a friend request.   We'll add you to the Swift Justice group.

How do I get in touch with Felipe?

Initially you’d have to sign up by sending an email to Sergio Lopez, smlopez@scu.edu Sergio would then set you up so you can write to Felipe. Also, as soon as you register, you'll gain access to our Swift Justice group on Facebook.   That way, you can post questions (Felipe will answer them as soon as he can), tips or requests for advice from other runners.

Legally speaking, whose waiver am I signing?

You are required to sign both the Morgan Hill Marathon + Half waiver and the Santa Clara University/Swift Justice waiver. You must print, sign and fax these documents to the KGACLC, at (408) 288-358, before you can participate in any training and run-related events. You may also send your registration forms to:

KGACLC/SCU School of Law

Attn: Sergio Lopez

1030 The Alameda

San Jose, CA 95126

These waivers are already included in the registration form that is accessible here.

Do you have a sample letter I can use to approach my friends and family for sponsorship?

Yes. As you know, the key to raise funds for this event is to tap into your network of friends and family to ask for their support. A quick e-mail to them does the trick most of the time. To this end, we are attaching the following Word Document , intended as a template. Of course, you know them best, so feel free to make any necessary modifications -- you can even write your own e-mails, but just make sure that you cut&paste the links (instead of retyping them) to ensure accuracy.

Can my friends and family donate on-line on my behalf?

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About Felipe Montoro, our trainer extraordinaire

Felipe Montoro, a native of Glendale, Calif., enters his seventh season with the Broncos and his first as the head coach for the combined cross country/track program. He is responsible for all coaching, administrative and recruiting aspects of Santa Clara's cross country and track programs.

Working primarily with the men's distance runners, Montoro coached Mike Delaurenti to the 2008 NCAA Division 1 Regional Track and Field Championships in the steeplechase, a first for Santa Clara.

Read more...

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Some typical KGACLC Cases

IMMIGRATION

Destiny Umbenhower, Jessica Johnston and Marco Campagna, recent SCU graduates, prepared and filed a self-petition under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) and an Application for Adjustment of Status to Lawful Permanent Resident for the battered wife and stepson of a U.S. citizen.

The wife was severely abused physically and mentally by her U.S. citizen spouse. His emotional abuse included threats to pour acid on her face and otherwise harm her. Thanks to these students’ efforts, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Vermont Service Center approved her self-petition based on the abuse she suffered. In addition, the USCIS office in San José has approved her permanent residence and her son’s permanent residence, so that both may begin to rebuild their lives.

CONSUMER RIGHTS

Mr. D and his wife purchased a computer system from a door-to-door salesman after a high-pressure sales pitch in their home. The finance company provided a monthly payment figure but failed to disclose that Mr. D and his wife would have to pay over $1,000 in interest over the life of the loan. Students at the Law Center filed a class action suit against the computer company and the finance company. Mr. D and his wife received $5,000 and the class received $690,000 in cash and over a million dollars in debt relief. The Law Center also obtained an injunction against the computer company.

WORKERS' COMPENSATION

Mr. L was a day laborer who sustained an injury to his finger while gardening The injury occurred while using a gas powered lawnmower. he was taken to the hospital by his employer, but was not provided with workers' compensation benefits. A KGACLC law student wrote a petition requesting benefits and asking that the outstanding medical bills to be paid. The parties agreed to settle the case for 49,877.10.

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