June 26, 2017 - USW Local 1944 would like to congratulate Sister Nancy McCurrach (Unit 51) for winning the national prize from the Jefferson Awards Foundation.

Jefferson Awards are given to local unsung heroes who are active in their communities. The Jefferson Awards Foundation inspires action by encouraging others to have the maximum impact on the things they care about most and was founded in 1972 by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Senator Robert Taft Jr., and Sam Beard.

Nancy founded Tri-Cities Refugee Welcome Wagon, a group of friends and co-workers who felt compelled to help Syrian and Turkish refugees who are making Port Coquitlam their new home. The group befriends and supports their new neighbors by eating meals with them, driving them to school, and teaching them English and raised money to pay for urgent medical issues and to buy family strollers, transit passes, food, and more.

“Nancy and her project represent what our union is all about: Welcoming all with open arms and working for better lives for all people, regardless of where they come from,” said Leo W. Gerard, USW’s International President. “We are humbled that USW has taken the Jefferson Award’s top award for the second-straight year, but the recognition isn’t why we’re so active in our communities. It’s because it’s the right thing to do.” USW Local 1944 President Lee Riggs added, “We are so proud to have Nancy win the National Jefferson award. Her activities are an inspiration and motivation to us all.”

“I’m so grateful that my union supports members like me who want to make a difference through community service,” McCurrach said. “I’m so honored to be a national Jefferson Award winner, but even more honored to be a member of an organization that shares my values and works tirelessly to make the world a better place – at work and in the places where we live and work.”

In Solidarity,

United Steelworkers Local 1944