(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – So many times, Western New York’s Labor Unions stand at the forefront of giving back to their local communities.
Sometimes it’s high-profile, like the annual United Way drive or the Variety Kids Telethon.
Other times, its quiet and behind-the-scenes, like the Buffalo Building & Construction Trades Council holding a local, outdoor, weekend ice hockey tournament to help raise thousands of dollars to benefit the long-term Pediatric HighPointe Unit in the City’s Medical Corridor - which houses room after room of patients, age infant to 21, who are being kept alive with the help of respirators.
When the ice chips settled on the rink down at the RiverWorks Entertainment Complex on Buffalo’s Waterfront, the Trades had raised $20,000 for the HighPointe Unit, adding to its total over the years that the Labor Organization has donated - including $120,000 from two meat raffles the individual Trades sponsored in the past.
“This ‘speaks to the character of Unions,’” Beth Hughes, President of the Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute, told WNYLaborToday.com as Members of several of the individuals Trades donned their uniforms and skates to take part in the tournament. “For a non-profit, ‘it is critical for our organization to see the Unionized Trades involved in our fundraising.’ ‘Everything helps.’ ‘We truly appreciate it.’”
“We ‘need this continued support to serve these kids,’” added Jonathan Hart, who serves as Vice President of Long-Term Care at Kaleida Health, which operates the HighPointe Unit. “This is ‘truly unique’ (the relationship between the Trades and the HighPointe Unit). The Trades ‘even make sure our kids have new clothes when they grow out of them.’”
Those Trades and their Members who participated in the charity hockey tournament were: Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters Local 276; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 41; Elevator Constructors Local 14; Ironworkers Local 6; Laborers Local 210; Sheet Metal Workers Local 71; and U.A. Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 22.
In addition, Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1122 fielded a team and participated in the hockey tournament too.
Several years ago, the Trades also raised $30,000 that was used to upgrade a playground area for the patients that’s housed just outside the HighPointe Unit, which provides those children and young adults an opportunity to “do things regular kids do,” Trades Representatives said.
(WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: For More On The Playground Project, Read: “It’s The Largest Donation We’ve Ever Received” - Long-Term Pediatric HighPointe Unit In Buffalo’s Growing Medical Corridor Receives $30,000 From The Buffalo Building & Construction Trades Council - WNY Labor Today: Your On-Line Labor Newspaper, Bringing You Labor News From Across The Nation, New York State & Western New York)
The HighPointe Unit cares for more than 20 pediatric residents who face a variety of challenges - tracheotomy patients, children with birth defects, paraplegics and others.
They range from infancy to 21 years of age and are cared for by a Staff of 30 compassionate, specially trained Health Professionals described as being skilled at using the latest technology and treatments.
The relationship between the Trades and the HighPointe Unit started in 2018 when Paul Brown - President of the Buffalo Trades Council, who also serves as Business Manager of Plasterers Local 9 - arranged to have a weekly Trades meeting held in a conference area at HighPointe.
The Trades’ 18 affiliated Unions and the highly-skilled Craftspeople they represent have - over the years, built the Buffalo Medical Campus, but the Leaders and Representatives of those Construction Unions, however, had not seen what this Unit displayed during their work there.
It clearly moved all.
“This has ‘become personal’ for Paul,” Hart said of the Trades President’s involvement at HighPointe. “These have become ‘his’ kids.”
A ceremonial puck drop was held on the ice before the tournament began that involved several of HighPointe’s patients, youngsters who reveled with the opportunity to not only be out of the Unit with the help of their wheelchairs, but to take part in such a fun event where so many people gathered to support and enjoy - including Brown himself, who was in the middle of everything.
Brown, who has served as Trades President for the past 21 years, told WNYLaborToday.com that Kaleida Health has made the decision to build Union in the Medical Corridor, which the individual Trades are grateful for.
“‘It’s tough - these kids’ eyes light up when they see us,’” Brown (pictured on the far right) said.
The Labor Law Firm of Collins & Collins also played a major role in the charity hockey tournament, donating $10,000 towards putting it all on, he said.
“‘A lot of people bitch and moan about what’s going on in their lives, but these kids live in wheelchairs,’” Brown said. “‘I don’t know how much of a difference (the Trades) are making, but all I can say is we are doing the best we can’ (to give back to the local community).”
WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: For More On The Buffalo Trades’ Kaleida Fundraising Effort In The City’s Medical Corridor, Read: Buffalo Building Trades Unions Raise $20,000 To Benefit The Roswell Park Cancer Institute During Weekend Hockey Tournament - Event ‘Promoted’ Union Solidarity While ‘Giving Back To The Buffalo Community At The Same Time’ - WNY Labor Today: Your On-Line Labor Newspaper, Bringing You Labor News From Across The Nation, New York State & Western New York
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