USW Cares: 2018 District 4 Jefferson Award Winner, Local Union 135L

District 4 Top Volunteer Profile

USW Jefferson Award Winner: USW Local Union 135L

Local Union: 135L

Location: Tonawanda, NY

Service Work: This local does it all! Just to name a few, here are some of the events, projects, and organizations they’re involved with: Ride for Charity (raising $170,000 for Make A Wish Foundation); St. Patrick’s Day Parade volunteer bartending (Valley Community Center fundraiser); scarf collection for the homeless; diaper drive benefiting Women’s and Children’s Hospital; Habitat for Humanity; gate-collection to benefit the Steelworkers Hurricane Relief Fund; the Tonawanda Tomorrow Initiative; “Day of Caring” for United Way (raising $3,000); Clean Air Coalition and Teachers Association book drive; Toys for Tots; coat drive for Peace Prints of Western New York (over 300 coats donated); Gate Greet for Veterans (providing a free lunch); fundraising to ‘adopt’ a Western New York veteran family; Red Brick Bench Press for military families; food drive; phone drive for the crisis service center; fundraising for the Family Justice Center and City Mission through WOS’s 50/50 raffles (more than $1,500 donated); Autism Speaks Walk; community outreach for HEAP assistance; CLC Chile cook-off for the Variety Club Telethon; $8,400 for a brother who lost his child; gate-collection for union families in need; Christmas party donation collection for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (raising over $1,000 each year); expansion of the Jefferson-Award-winning event “Black Labor Week” into Western New York by co-hosting the event this year.

Hours: continuous

Community Impact: Local 135L directly donated $195,925 to their community in the form of monetary donations, provided 1,200 free meals, helped build 3 homes for low-income families, donated 45 scarves to the homeless, distributed 30,000 books to children, and sponsored 26 “wishes” through Make a Wish Foundation.

Outstanding Quality: This compassionate local’s community service and philanthropy is unmatched. They have made giving-back a priority, and they excel at it.

Prize money donated to: United Way of Buffalo and Erie county