IBEW 445 LMCC establishes new level of giving to Bruin Open

Members of a local IBEW present a donation check to KCC and KCC Foundation officials outside on campus.

Representatives of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers LMCC, which includes Current Electric Inc., Motor Shop Electrical Construction and Union Electric Inc., on Aug. 20 presented the Kellogg Community College Foundation with a donation of $7,500, representing a new level of giving to the Foundation’s 17th annual Bruin Scholarship Open.

The donation is a 50 percent increase from what the group gave in 2013. This group, whose members constitute the IBEW’s Labor Management Cooperative Committee, donates annually to the Open, a golf tournament which raises money for student scholarships at KCC. As the largest-ever single donor to the Open, the group is celebrated as a “Bruin Champion” by the KCC Foundation.

This donation was a combination of contributions made by the employers and the members of IBEW 445.

“We work here, we reside here and we do business here and we have a responsibility to the community, which we take very seriously,” said Steve Claywell, business manager of IBEW 445 and chairman of the KCC Board of Trustees. “With the ups and downs in our community, this money will be put to good use and make a direct impact in the lives of people in our community. This is our way as businesses and union members to show our community that we care and we’re willing to back that up with action and not just talk about it.”

“As business owners, it’s important for us to support our community,” said Stan Schultz, owner of Current Electric Inc. and a representative of the LMCC.

Teresa Durham, executive director of the KCC Foundation, said she is elated that these local companies are strengthening their financial backing for education.

“We are deeply grateful for the continued support of IBEW Local 445 LMCC and we are extremely excited that they are at the Champion sponsorship level, which shows their commitment to KCC students and the importance of access to education,” Durham said.

The Bruin Scholarship Open is an annual fundraiser for the KCC Foundation, which provides scholarships to hundreds of students each year. This year, the Open will be held Sept. 5 at Binder Park Golf Course in Battle Creek. Sponsorship opportunities are available at the Bruin Champion, Double Eagle, Birdie and other levels.

For more information about sponsorships, contact the Foundation office at 269-965-4161 or kccfoundation@kellogg.edu.

Pictured above, from left, are Rick Scott, chief financial officer at Kellogg Community College; Dr. Dennis Bona, president of KCC; John Banks, owner of Motor Shop Electrical Construction; Teresa Durham, executive director of the KCC Foundation; Ken Feller, owner of Union Electric Inc.; Stan Schultz, owner of Current Electric Inc.; Steve Claywell, business manager of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 445; and Mark O’Connell, vice president of administration and finance at KCC.

For more news about Kellogg Community College, view our latest news releases online at daily.kellogg.edu/category/news-releases.