In the days and weeks after Sept. 11, 2001, employees, workers and employers of the Michigan building trades and construction industry made numerous contributions of time, talents and resources to assist those affected by the tragic events of that day.

Some of our members actively participated in the rescue and clean-up efforts while others supported worthy charitable organizations working to assist others.

One of our responses was to establish the Michigan Building Trades and Construction Industry 911 Relief Fund at the Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan. A total of $206,670 was raised by the generous contributions of employees, workers and employers throughout our industry.

Our gifts were distributed from the Michigan Building Trades and Construction Industry 911 Relief Fund to the September 11th Fund of the New York Community Trust. It should be noted that neither the Community Foundation for Southeastern Michigan nor the New York Community Trust charged any administrative fees to this effort. Therefore, all of your gifts went to help those in need.

John Rakolta, Jr., President and CEO, Walbridge Aldinger, and I served as the co-advisors on this fund. We received valuable input on making the grant to the September 11th fund from a group of employee and employer advisors and the staff of the Community Foundation.

The September 11th Fund used these gifts to provide direct cash assistance to the surviving family members of building trade and construction industry workers killed in the attacks. Each family received, as a result of your gifts and other funds available through the September 11th Fund, a cash distribution of $10,000. These families may also have received direct support from other sources.

We are proud that our members rose to the challenge put before them on Sept. 11. The thanks of all those affected are yours no matter how you supported them in their time of need.