WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 237 has made a $30,000 donation to the United Way of Greater Niagara’s (UWGN) for its 2025 fundraising drive. Pictured from left to right: Local 237 Business Manager John Scherrer; UWGN President Andrea Gray; and Local 237 President Tom Martin. The Niagara Falls Building Trades Union has donated more than $154,000 to the UWGN since 2018, which comes from the Union’s Membership and its Contractor Association, which agreed in their contract to set aside several cents per hour worked to donate to the United Way.  (UWGN Provided Photo)

(NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK) – International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 237 has made a $30,000 donation to the United Way of Greater Niagara (UWGN), which UWGN President Andrea Gray says “will help build brighter futures and stronger families right here” in Niagara County’s many communities.

The donation was made to aid the UWGN’s 2025’s annual fundraising campaign and brings Local 237’s overall total to more than $154,000 since 2018 - and $79,000 over just the past three years, to benefit a number of youth-oriented programs associated with the United Way.

“Unions like IBEW Local (237) play a vital role in shaping the future for our youth,” Gray said. “Through workforce pathways, Apprenticeship opportunities and the values of leadership, service and solidarity, they help build brighter futures and stronger families right here in our community. We are deeply grateful for their continued dedication and support.”

Built into every IBEW Local 237-National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) contract is a pledge to community service.

Currently, six cents per worked hour by IBEW-represented Members is invested into a dedicated fund.

Local 237, which represents 300 Members, then determines where those dollars make the greatest impact, Business Manager John Scherrer tells WNYLaborToday.com: “Our Members ‘live here and it’s just our way of it going back to the communities we serve.’ ‘It’s a good thing.’”

Local 237 has been a champion of the UWGN for many years, not only through their annual financial contributions but also by supporting key events such as Labor’s Night at the Races and the UWGN’s Annual Awards Breakfast.

In fact - of the more than $154,000 that IBEW Local 237 has donated to the UWGN over the course of time, a total of $79,000 has been given to the non-profit in just the last three years.

“That money, per hour, ‘adds up and goes a long way,’” said Scherrer, adding his Local has “enjoyed a great amount of work” for its Membership over the past year.

NECA also partners with Local 237 to provide training for both new Apprentices and continuing education for Journeymen that allow NECA Contractors to continuously employ the best trained Employees - and ensure the highest quality of electrical work to all customers, performing on time and on budget.

“So when (Local 237) participates in the (UWGN’s) Awards Breakfast, ‘we publicly make those businesses who employ our Members on their projects through our Member NECA Contractors aware that some of what we earn goes right back into helping our community.’ It’s: ‘When you employ us, you are helping the (local) community.’ ‘I hope more would keep that in mind when they contract an electrical firm to do their business,’” Scherrer said.

The UWGW’s mission is to invest in youth programs that positively impact social, emotional and mental development to support the community today and strengthen it for tomorrow.

Traditionally, it is Organized Labor that has played a historical role in annually helping to raise about 40% of the UWGN’s overall fundraising goal through payroll deductions and donations.

In addition to IBEW Local 237’s donation, dollars raised at the Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Central Labor Council’s annual Labor’s Night At The Races goes to benefit 13 youth-oriented community programs that are funded by the UWGN across this Western New York County, including - but not limited to, the Boy’s and Girl Scouts organizations, the Salvation Army, a Homeless Youth Program, a Down Syndrome Program offered in Lewiston, and an Educational Youth Program offered by the Aquarium of Niagara Falls.