Community Corner
Union Members Support Local Charities During Holidays
Donations made to four local non-profit groups as chosen by members
A recent social media competition resulted in four local charities receiving donations in the names of four members of United Association Local 149.
The Boy Scouts of America - Prairielands Council, Rattle The Stars, American Cancer Society and Prairie Rivers Network benefitted from the contest sponsored by Local 149. For all of December, the union encouraged members to engage with their posts for a chance to win union merchandise every week. The union also announced that each weekly winner would have the chance to choose a local charity to receive a $100 donation in their name.
- Eric Bialeschki, a union technician at Davis Houk Mechanical, selected the Boy Scouts to receive his contribution after he grew up as a member of the Prairielands Council and his 15-year-old son is now involved. “They do a great job of teaching leadership qualities and good values,” he said.
- Ryan Mette, who works for A&R Mechanical, made his contribution to Rattle The Stars, a Champaign organization focused on mental health services and suicide prevention. “I had a close friend who suffered from depression and shortly after high school, he committed suicide. I wanted to contribute to a group helping people in those situations.”
- Zach Ayers, a first-year apprentice working at the University of Illinois, has had family members who’ve fought cancer and, as a result, selected the American Cancer Society to receive his $100 contribution. “I thought it was important to do my part and help an organization helping so many others,” he said.
- Dustin Rhodes, who works at the University of Illinois, is an avid outdoorsman and Eagle Scout who has canoed the Middle Fork River several times and supports environmental efforts there by the Prairie Rivers Network. “There are endangered species living there, it’s in our back yard and coal ash leeching into the river banks isn’t helping. I wanted to help the people responsible for trying to clean it up. Everyone should be able to enjoy it.”
Local 149 represents more than 600 East Central Illinois residents in Ford, Champaign, Coles, Cumberland, Effingham, Jasper and Piatt counties. Members work for more than 40 local companies providing plumbing, heating, air conditioning, refrigeration, steam, industrial process, boiler and medical-gas piping services.