Jersey Central Power & Light employees swing big for veterans
Fundraiser led by Veterans & Allies EBRG raised nearly $10,000 for veterans’ charity
NEW JERSEY – Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) employees recently joined forces to raise money for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.
This foundation, dedicated to supporting our nation’s veterans and 9/11 families, finds its roots in the heroic actions of a New York City firefighter on that fateful day.
As members of JCP&L’s Veterans & Allies employee business resource group (EBRG) gathered for its inaugural fundraiser, the unmistakable parallels between their commitment and the foundation’s mission became evident. The Oct. 18 gathering marked the first event for the company’s Veterans & Allies chapter, a group of 129 employees that work to ensure development opportunities for veteran employees and support veteran causes.
On Sept. 11, 2001, FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller was on his way to play golf with his brothers when his scanner crackled with calls of a plane hitting the World Trade Center. His plans immediately changed. He drove to the entrance of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel, strapped on his 60 lbs. of firefighting gear and raced through the 9,117-foot tunnel to the towers.
“The Tunnel to Towers Foundation was born out of the courage and heroism of Stephen Siller on 9/11, a day that deeply affected so many of our employees and customers,” said Jim Fakult, president, JCP&L. “I’m proud that our employees, led by our Veterans & Allies resource group, continue to step up and support this organization’s work for veterans, first responders and 9/11 families.”
To honor Siller’s heroic acts, more than 70 JCP&L employees gathered at Farmstead Country Club in Lafayette to play a round of golf and walk the course – nearly identical in length to the distance Siller travelled on 9/11 to help people trapped in the towers. Each employee who participated donated $100 to Tunnels to Towers Foundation.
In all, the employees – more than half of whom are members of IBEW Local 1289 – raised $9,880 for the foundation, far eclipsing their $7,500 goal.
“IBEW Local 1289 is proud to include numerous veterans among our 1,100 members, including more than 45 who have joined JCP&L’s Veterans & Allies. Their ongoing support of those who have served our nation and the families who lost the most on 9/11 is a reminder of the sacrifices made daily to keep our country safe,” said Robert Bruno, vice president of IBEW Local 1289.
In addition to donations to register for the outing, the Tunnel to Towers Foundation donated a golf bag that was auctioned off. Longtime JCP&L employee John Mahon also handcrafted custom pens that were awarded to winners of longest drive, straightest drive and two closest to the pin competitions, and the top foursomes took home JCP&L totes and umbrellas.
