THE HAGARTY FAMILY arrived early and helped get the party started. From left are Patrick Hagarty (Iron Workers Local 392); Woody Hagarty (Laborers Local 670); Linda Hagarty; Casey Hagarty; Katelyn Hagarty (Highland Education Association); and Corey Hagarty (Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 101).
By CARL GREEN
Illinois Correspondent
Sauget, IL – A big crowd came out on Saturday, June 9 to join in Steamfitters Local 439’s annual Gateway Grizzlies fundraiser benefitting the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance’s Burn Camp for Kids.
The weeklong annual camp provides great experiences at no cost for kids who have suffered burn injuries.
Local 439’s Night at the Grizzlies fundraiser has become one of the premiere local fundraising events and a major contributor to the burn camp.
This is the 15th year Local 439 has hosted the event, in honor of George Bailey, who was fatally injured in an explosion of superheated water at U.S. Steel’s Granite City Works in 2004. He was the cousin of Local 439 Business Manager Totsie Bailey. The Local has raised more than $400,000 for the camp in George Bailey’s name.
Those in attendance at this year’s game enjoyed a delicious pork steak dinner and a lively 8-5 game that, sadly, the Grizzlies lost to the Florence Freedom.
For more information on the burn camp or future fund raising activities, contact Local 439 at 618-624-6096.
Here are some additional photos from the event. – All photos Labor Tribune
RON KAEMPFE (right), business manager of Operating Engineers Local 520 and president of the Southwestern Illinois Building & Construction Trades Council, greets Local 520 member Rod Matzenbacher.
MARC PARKER (center), candidate for Madison County circuit, brought his daughter, Madison, and they met up with Scott Ricketts, director of market development for Sheet Metal Workers Local 268.
TWO LONGTIME MEMBERS of the Southwestern Illinois Central Labor Council – Eddie Brown (left) of United Transportation Local 1402’s Eddie Brown (left), and Nick Dodson, now a United Way labor liaison, spent some time catching up.
STEAMFITTERS Local 439 member Wayne Brown (from left), along with Denise Brown, Vanessa Bailey and Local 439 member Patrick Bailey, came out to enjoy the game.
BILL THURSTON (left), newly retired after a long stint as president of the Southwestern Illinois Central Labor Council, met over pork steak with Chris Belt, Democratic nominee in Illinois Senate District 57.
