Brotherhood. Unity. Compassion. Last weekend the IKORCC joined 4 Cleveland-area locals to support The Up Side of Downs. The organization raises money for Down’s Syndrome advocacy. Locals 1090, 285, 373 & 435 have raised nearly $70,000 for the organization. We are incredibly proud of the amazing work these carpenters & millwrights have done in the community!
This holiday season Locals 2 and 1090 in Cincinnati made sure no child was left behind. As part of their ongoing partnership with St. Joseph’s Orphanage, IKORCC carpenters and millwrights made sure kids in the home had something to wake up to this Christmas.
The orphanage often gets toy donations for the younger kids but struggles when it comes to making teens’ wishes come true. That’s where IKORCC members stepped in to help. Locals 2 and 1090 donated a total of $1,000 to help.
The Rossford IKORCC campus works hard to honor military veterans. This year that hard work helped them win a national award from the Veterans Health Administration for their Community Partnership Challenge. The Rossford campus partnered with the Toledo V.A. Clinic for the Helmets to Hardhats program. Helmets to Hardhats helps military veterans get back to work quickly after service.
“These veterans tend to be natural leaders and end up as foremen and superintendents. As they go through their careers, they bring more veterans in. We’d like to have a nice flow of veterans coming into our program every year,” said Mike Gibson, a senior representative at the Rossford campus.
When Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters (IKORCC) Business Representative and Akron Local 285 member Abe Bruner, read in a local paper that 9 in 10 fires around Akron could have been prevented from spreading, he knew it was time to take action. Homes and families without a functioning smoke detector are at greater risk to be affected by a fire.
“More than 22 fire deaths have occurred in the last two years [in Akron]. A number of those homes did not have functioning smoke detectors”, says Lieutenant Lash.
As a Member Action Committee party chairperson in his local, Abe decided to do something about it. Beginning last year, the committee rounded up their resources and donated around 80 new smoke detectors for the Akron Fire Department. Lt. Lash says the department strives to get working smoke detectors on every floor or level of homes in need.
With the help of Akron Local 285, Millwright’s Local 1090, Cleveland Locals 435 and 373, Tri-County Building Trades in Akron, and Donley’s Construction; this year they have over doubled the previous years’ donation.
Around 176 new smoke detectors were donated through Captain Haas at the Akron Fire Department this past Friday, July 26th. The Akron Fire Department will be installing these new smoke detectors into homes of families in need around the City of Akron. Haas hopes to get a new, fully functioning smoke detector in every home.
The committee is grateful to have the opportunity to help their community and hopes to get even more donations set up for next year.
(Featured in photo from left to right: Captain Haas, Kristin Fox, Rob Treichel, Abe Bruner, LT. Joe Falkenstein, Marcus Wagner.)
Dan Sivertson, member of Millwrights & Pile Drivers 1090, and his family have a special reason they celebrate World Down Syndrome Day. 
He and his wife found out their daughter would be born with Down Syndrome 13 years ago. The two quickly made a connection with the local organization, The Up Side of Downs. The organization helped by providing them with support in learning about Down Syndrome and with books to guide them through the diagnosis.
The Up Side of Downs truly made an impact in their lives and they are forever grateful for the support. Their daughter Eve is now 13 years old thriving in the 7th grade. Eve is just like any other teenage girl and loves the time she spends with her friends!
In celebration of World Down Syndrome Day, the IKORCC would like to shine a light on an organization we take pride in supporting. The IKORCC was fortunate to be a Presenting Sponsor for The Up Side of Downs Gala/Raffle event on Saturday, March 10th for the fifth year in a row.
Between Carpenters Locals 373, 435 and Millwrights and Pile Drivers Local 1090 we have donated over $50,000 to the organization to help raise awareness and advocate for people with Down Syndrome. Over 570 people attended the Up Side of Downs Gala, 120 of them were IKORCC members.
“I can’t thank my fellow Brothers and Sisters of these Locals for their generous support and donations,” Dan Sivertson says.
If you interested in supporting the cause, there is a Buddy Walk on August 25th. Last year there were over 5,000 plus attendees at the event. Dan Sivertson in a leader of the beli-EVE N US Team and typically has around 75-100 family and friends walk together for the cause.
