Community Service
United Way
Three years ago, Joe Delaley, the United Way of Allegheny County Representative from the Allegheny County Labor Council called our Business Manager, Jeff Davis, to ask for our union to get more involved in the jointly run United Way campaign of Duquesne Light and Local 29. Jeff approached Duquesne Light Company’s CEO Morgan O’Brien to discuss the union’s involvement in the campaign. The 2008 United Way Committee of union and company solicitors was reformed and the first United Way Solicitor’s Committee meeting was held in October of 2008. The committee met and discussed what it would take to get the membership back involved in the campaign. The committee agreed that the way the United Way meetings were done in the past was the best. Having general meetings, followed by one on one solicitation was the key for our members to see and understand what the United Way was and what the United Way did with the money they received from our members contributions.
As that campaign unfolded the union was looking at 17% contributions from the union membership the previous 2007 year. With guest agencies speakers and the union officers in full support at those meetings, the union membership engaged and responded to the union’s message. The union membership increased its contributions to a 17% increase for the 2008 campaign.
In 2009, at the opening of the 2009 United Way Campaign meeting held by the Allegheny County Labor Council. The labor council recognized our union, local 29, for its outstanding increase of United Way contributions in 2008.
After the end the 2009 campaign, the union membership responded again and increased the union’s contributions by another 17%.
At the 2009 Campaign Closing Ceremony held by the United Way of Allegheny County, the United Way of Allegheny County recognized local 29 by presenting to our union leadership, the First Annual Paul Stackhouse Sr. Award for our union’s 17% increase in contributions to the United Way.
A special thank you to our brothers, Mike Jones, Gordon Shealey, and George Heisel for sharing their personal family hardships on the 2009 campaign video shown at all the meetings so our members would know that it’s not just the elderly, sick, homeless, handicapped, or the poor that need the United Way, but people like our union brothers and sisters and their family members that might have a need for a United Way Agency. Remember in Allegheny County, there are over 60 funded agencies, and over 3000 agencies that participate in the campaign that you can designate your donations too.
Our union members were only asked to donate a dollar a pay, but as true union members, they came through by adding on to their contributions.
The 2010 campaign has come to an end. The union membership has increased its contributions by 6% from 51% in 2009 to 57% in 2010. Thank you brothers and sisters.
A great showing of support for the 2010 United Way campaign came from our T&D Preble Service Center, their contribution level was a super 100% participation.
The T&D United Way Cup will stay put in the Preble Service Center for another year with that 100% contribution. Thank you brothers. Also the T&D group as a whole ended with an 88% contribution rate.
The cup was presented to Sam Houpt and Dave Farabaugh by the United Way’s CEO Bob Nelcom at a Preble Service Center gathering of all the crew members to witness and be honored for their 100% support of the campaign and the United Way.
Many departments had increases in this years contributions and the United Way will work wonders with the dollars you have generously donated.
The response by the union membership towards the United Way campaign is fantastic. Thank you, to say the least for the hard work of our Solicitor Committee. Just saying “Thank You” doesn’t really cover the feelings of the union for your commitment to these campaigns. Without your support these campaigns could never have achieved the numbers it has so far.
Another division of our local that held United Way meetings at their power plants, Cheswick and Elama. Meetings were held for the second year for the members and a guest agency speaker at Elrama was there to talk about his respected agency. Our union officials were in attendance at these meetings to show the unions commitment for the United Way campaign.
Thank you, Brother Jim DePoe for your hard work to make these meetings happen and be successful.
The 2010 campaign has come to a close and the union membership at Duquesne light has again increased it contributions. This year’s increase was 6%. Again thanks to our union brothers and sisters for giving to those who need our help and continued support.
Thank you to the union members for your support to the 2010 Duquesne Light/IBEW Joint Campaign, the total contribution level, 58%. Also, the United Way has a Leadership Donor Award, which recognizes those who donate One Thousand Dollars ($1000.00) and we have union Leadership Donors this year.
If you and your spouse both give to the United Way, and your joint contributions add up to or over $1000.00 you are also considered a Leadership Donor. Inform your United Way representative so you and the union can be recognized for your outstanding support.
Thank you to all our union brothers and sister of IBEW local 29 for you support of the United Way.
Fraternally yours,
Ken Jones