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