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UAW Helps Life's WORC

August 2-4, 2005 the UAW Region 8 Skilled Trades Conference was held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. The convention was held at the Holiday Inn located in Myrtle Beach, so Region 8 members moved between their rooms and the meeting facilities to attend the sessions.

During their travels back and forth they noticed a group of developmentally disabled young adults around the pool. The group was on a short vacation in Myrtle Beach from Garden City, New York, where they were part of the Life’s WORC Foundation. This United Way agency provides comprehensive care to individuals with developmental disabilities. At present, the agency manages 32 group homes and 11 community-based programs throughout Queens, Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

The convention participants noticed the group didn’t have money for bottle water or sodas at the pool, based on the limited funds available for their trip. With the weather being hot, they were forced to go inside the hotel for water. This presented an issue for their caregivers along on the trip.

So, the UAW members at the conference got together and raised over $500 to donate to the Life’s WORC trip. The money was used to buy sodas, bottled water and provide a pizza party for the group. “Thank you for your contribution of $550.00 in support of Life's WORC, which you donated while on vacation in South Carolina,” states Matthew P. Zebatto of Life’s WORC. “The money was put to good use and helped our participants have a much better trip.”

“This donation helped make their vacation a little better,” adds Region 8 Assistant Director Donny Bevis. “Helping others is what the UAW is all about and this generosity by the Skilled Trades Convention participants just underscores this point.”