INDEPENDENCE, Ohio, October 2 — The BLET National Division is continuing to accept donations and applications for its Perrien Fund to help members victimized by Hurricane Harvey in Texas and Louisiana.
As previously reported, the BLET’s National Division Advisory Board approved a recommendation from BLET National President Dennis R. Pierce on August 30 to re-activate and expand its Gary Perrien Fund to provide financial assistance to members living in Texas and Louisiana who have been the hardest hit by Hurricane Harvey.
The Gary Perrien Fund was originally established by action of the delegates at BLET’s Second National Convention in 2010. Brother Gary Perrien, then an active member serving on the Convention’s Arrangements Committee, fell ill and the delegates passed the hat to assist in his recovery. In a televised report back to the convention from his hospital bed, Brother Perrien asked that the funds be used to help those more needy than him, leading the delegates and the Advisory Board to later create the Gary Perrien Fund. Brother Perrien recovered and retired in the years following the 2010 Convention.
As part of the expansion of the Fund, the BLET Advisory Board also authorized President Pierce’s request that $20,000.00 be transferred from the Union’s General Fund to the Perrien Fund as part of the associated fund raising effort on behalf of the Union’s members harmed by the storm. In addition, the Advisory Board also approved President Pierce’s recommendation that BLET make a matching $20,000.00 donation to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Disaster Relief Fund.
To date, more than 60 BLET General Committees of Adjustment, State Legislative Boards, Local Divisions, and individual members have made donations to supplement the National Division’s initial $20,000 gift. However, more donations would be appreciated and would go to assist fellow BLET members and their families in need.
“We know that there are members who want to assist their Brothers and Sisters who have been harmed by the storm,” President Pierce said. “One hundred percent of the money raised through this effort will go directly to as many members as possible.”
To make an online donation, please visit: https://www.ble-t.org/perrien.
Also, checks can be made payable to the “Gary Perrien Medical Relief Fund” and mailed to:
Perrien Fund–Harvey Relief
BLET National Division
7061 East Pleasant Valley Road
Independence, OH 44131
Donations are not tax deductible.