Fiat Chrysler/UAW presents check to United Way of Rock River Valley

By Anne Eickstadt

ANNE EICKSTADT PHOTO Belvidere Daily Republican
FCA/UAW presents a check for $53,205 earned as a result of special event fundraising to United Way of Rock River Valley.

Editor

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has been the top employer in the Rockford Region for quite some time, and with that, have employed several union workers who work very hard every day building strong American Made vehicles. Those union workers, many of whom are members of UAW Local 1268, consistently do great things in our community outside of the normal workplace campaign; which in an of itself annually raises hundreds of thousands of dollars benefitting our local community.

“This check is just money we have raised during special events,” said Karen Macki, FCA. “It represents a lot of hard work by a lot of men and women. We have also donated over 20,000 items for classrooms in Rockford and Belvidere.”

“For the last several years, we have been raffling off a car,” said Paul Logli, executive director of United Way of Rock River Valley. “People know that the needs in the community are not getting smaller, they are getting bigger. We are able to help.”

The Belvidere Chrysler Plant began the year with their annual Stuff the Bus Campaign benefitting local area schools and students in Rockford and Belvidere. Close to 9000 school supplies were donated for the start of many more drives throughout the year. There was a Hygiene Drive for United Way of Rock River Valley Community Partner, Youth Services Network, with over 5800 hygiene items collected. The money and items raised during the Thanksgiving Drive provided over $66,000 worth of food to Northern Illinois Food Bank’s adopted food pantries.

The Holiday months provided FCA a chance to benefit not only United Way’s first annual Santa’s Workshop at Ellis Elementary School, but also many of its partner agencies collecting over $4000 and hundreds of toys to families in need including two…

For complete article, pick up the April 1 Belvidere Daily Republican.