Building trades workers and their families have an opportunity to aid

both the current and long-term needs of construction industry workers and their families who were affected by the Sept. 11 disasters in New York and Washington, D.C.

The Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan (CFSM) will administer the fund. Initially monies designated for trade and construction worker victims will be granted by the CFSM to the "September 11th Fund" held at The New York Community Trust, the community foundation serving metropolitan New York.

Workers are asked to donate a minimum amount equal to one hour of wages. A special bulletin was also sent to presidents and CEOs of Michigan building trades and construction industry companies on Sept. 25 to invite them and their employees to participate in the Michigan Building Trades and Construction Industry 911 Relief Fund.

The co-advisors of the Michigan Building Trades and Construction Industry 911 Relief Fund are John Rakolta, Jr., President and CEO of Walbridge-Aldinger Co., and Patrick J. Devlin, Secretary-Treasurer, Greater Detroit Building and Construction Trades Council. Rakolta and Devlin will serve with a 10-member committee representing labor and management from the Michigan building trades and construction industry.

"We have spoken with New York construction and trade representatives who indicated to us that approximately 150 construction and trades people were killed or injured as a result of the World Trade Center disaster," said Devlin. "This fund is a symbol of our empathy with our counterparts as well as what we feel is our profound patriotic duty to assist victims and victim families to move forward with their lives."

Contributions are tax-deductible and workers can complete a payroll deduction form for the October 2001 payroll period, said Rakolta.

"We are encouraging contractors to match funds with their employee contributions," Rakolta said. "It is our goal to raise a minimum of $1 million to support this effort." Rakolta explained that the fund is a collaborative effort of construction industry labor and management because both workers and management people were killed or injured in the September 11 disasters.

Contributions from the general public will be accepted; checks should be made payable to the Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan with a notation on the memo section of the check that the contribution is for the Michigan Building Trades and Construction Industry 911 Relief Fund.

Send contributions to Department 237701, Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan, PO BOX 67000, Detroit, MI, 48267-2377.