South Alabama Labor Leaders Recieves United Way Honors

The United Way of Southwest Alabama's 2nd Annual Awards Reception was held on Tuesday, May 1st at the RSA Battle House Tower in Mobile, Alabama. Awards for volunteers were given to individuals, companies, and organized labor. Each year SWALC and UWSWA give two awards for outstanding service throughout the year.

The 2017 Red Leachman Community Services Award is given each year to the Local Union who runs an outstanding campaign and/or makes a significant impact in the labor area. The award was created in the memory of James E. “Red” Leachman, Labor Liaison on the staff of the Mobile County United Fund from 1964
until his death in May of 1979. Beloved by all with whom he worked for his compassion and resourcefulness in helping others, Red embodied the United Way Spirit of “People helping People”.   This year, the Award went to a very deserving union; the Heat & Frost Insulators Local 55 . They have supported the United Way by generously participating in the annual & workplace campaign and championing special events like the Alabama State Building Trades Golf Tournament, which has netted over $8,400 in its first three years for the United Way; the Warmth for Winter Coat Drive; and the new Ladies of Labor Brunch, which netted $2,994; and their Happy Hour Event Drives, each of which have benefited a United Way Partner Agency.  They have also been volunteers for the NALC Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive for several years.  

The W.O. Mozingo Community Service Award recognizes outstanding service by an individual to the community and to United Way of Southwest Alabama.  This award was created in 1992 to honor a great humanitarian and esteemed leader in the labor community, W.O. Mozingo.

This year’s recipient is Winston Waite, Jr. Unfortunately, he was unable to attend the reception but was given his award the week prior during his monthly United Steel Workers Local 9-562 union meeting with his fellow members present. Winston serves as the United Way Campaign Co-Chairperson, serves on the United Way Washington County Committee, and participates in the Community Impact Program Funding review process for Washington County.  

The top award given by the United Way is the Spirit of the Gulf Coast Award. This year Alabama Power Company, a union shop, was given that honor. AP has a robust service organization that is deeply involved in our local community. Employees and their family members volunteer regularly throughout the year with many of our agencies and directly with United Way through the Community Impact process and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program. Every year, this company and its employees also participate in UWSWA Day of Caring and tours of United Way agencies to see first-hand how their dollars are impacting lives. In addition to their volunteerism, this company and its employees consistently raise approximately $200,000 each year for United Way and for the last three years have had 70% employee participation in their United Way campaign. Since 1998, they have donated more than $4.2 million to United Way.

During the remarks of Vice President of the AP Mobile Mark Saxon acknowledged and thanked IBEW Local 345 for their contributions to the company and the community. In fact, IBEW leadership, Russel Cabe and Randy Turner were on stage with Mr. Saxon to accept the award.

We are extremely proud of all our union winners!