Client Stories Kick Off IBEW United Way Campaign
Thursday, November 21, 2013(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
Staff and management of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
(IBEW) kicked off this year’s headquarters United Way campaign with stories of
some of the Community Services Agency’s emergency assistance clients and how
important the help provided was to these working families. The IBEW has also
adopted two union families for the Christmas holidays, both of which have
experienced unemployment and serious health issues affecting their income to the
point that they are now struggling with basic necessities. “We feel we want to
continue to give funds during the United Way Campaign but also to have more
direct impact on people needing help”, said Carolyn Williams, Director of the
Civic and Community Engagement Department at IBEW. “It really brings it
home when you volunteer directly with folks impacted by various problems,”
added Len Shindel, chief OPEIU Local 2 steward. Staff members volunteered at the
kickoff meeting to help come up with plans to donate their time on work projects
helping members of the surrounding community. For several years, IBEW has been
the leader within the United Way Labor Division for most funds raised, last year
totaling $56,751.
photo: (L-R): James Jones, Lucas Oswalt, Len
Shindel, Jason Kauffman, Carolyn Williams, Pete Neforos; From left (front):
Deanna Dugan, Erin Farmer, Ashley Newkirk