Swinging irons for a cause

Joseph Geiger, Executive Secretary-Treasurer for the NYCDCC; Jared Allen, former Minnesota Vikings defensive end and founder of the Jared Allen’s Homes for Wounded Warriors; Alex Karalexis, Lead Project Manager for Jared Allen’s Homes for Wounded Warriors; John Sheehy, Chair for the NYCDCC Charity Golf Outing and Director of Jurisdiction, Contracts, and Agreements

On last Friday, Aug. 11th at Crystal Springs Golf Course in New Jersey, the union carpenters from New York City hung up their hammers to swing some irons for the day, all to help support a cause they are well suited to endorse: constructing handicap-accessible homes for injured US veterans.

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Partnering with Jared Allen’s Homes for Wounded Warriors, the New York City District Council of Carpenters hosted their 3rd annual Charity Golf Outing, raising $200,000 with the help of their union contractors they work with every day. This brings the total raised over their three year partnership to $425,000.

Former Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen, the charity’s founder, was in attendance as well as labor and construction industry leaders from the New Jersey and New York areas.

“The International United Brotherhood of Carpenters and the New York City District Council have been amazing partners for my foundation,” says Jared. “We have recently begun work on seven projects across the nation and if it wasn’t for the support from the UBC and the funds raised at events like this one, we would not be able to do what we do. The support from this organization has been invaluable and I am grateful for the hard work and time everyone involved has put in making this event and this partnership a success.”

Recently, members of the District Council donated their time and skills to replace the old carpets in the offices of the United War Veterans Council (UWVC), whose mission is to “mobilize our communities to honor, support, and serve America’s veterans.” Additionally, the NYC District Council had six carpenters, along with a strong workforce of FDNY members, as HEART 9/11 volunteers on a veteran build in Denver, NC earlier this spring. The UBC, Allen’s Foundation, NYC District Council, and other organizations continue to build a strong partnership that brings specialized homes and support to military veterans and their families.

The NYC District Council is proud to partner with him in this cause, and can help with what union carpenters do best: build sturdy, beautiful, lasting homes and facilities with their dedication to craftsmanship and safety standards. The District Council has a large number of veterans in its membership, and is dedicated to supporting our returning service members both within our membership and throughout the country.

“It is an honor to continue participating in such a worthy cause with Jared Allen and his incredible foundation,” says Joseph Geiger, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the NYCDCC. “The NYCDCC is proud to partner with him in this cause. Our organization has a large number of veterans within its ranks, and is dedicated to supporting our returning service members both within our membership and throughout the country.”

Jared Allen’s Homes for Wounded Warriors was formed in October of 2009 by Carolina Panthers defensive end Jared Allen after he returned home from his USO trip to US Military Bases in the Middle East. Jared was moved by the commitment, dedication, and sacrifices that our soldiers make every day to protect our freedom. He wanted to say thank you to every soldier in the only way that Jared knows how. By embracing the conflict and making a positive life-changing difference in the lives of those who need it most, Jared and his JAH4WW will help make life for wounded vets just a little bit easier.

The New York City District Council of Carpenters and Joiners of America is a representative body comprised of nine individual Locals and 25,000 union members. The District Council functions as the voice for thousands of New York City’s most dedicated and skilled Carpenters, Millwrights, Dockbuilders, Timbermen, Cabinetmakers, Floorcoverers and Industrial Workers.

Above all else, the District Council is dedicated to guarantee that every worker in our represented trades has rights in the workplace, a fair wage, a healthy family and hope for the future. The construction industry is prone to exploitative and dangerous conditions in the workplace; our efforts are to eliminate those tendencies through strong advocacy and direct action.

 

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