IAM golf tournament raises $3,500 for Whidbey charity

OAK HARBOR — Members of Machinists Union District Lodge 751 who work at Whidbey Island Naval Air Station raised more than $3,500 with a charity golf tournament.

The event was held Aug. 24 at the Navy Gallery Golf Course and attracted 56 golfers.

All the proceeds went to North Whidbey Help House, a community-based food bank that provides supplemental and emergency food, Salvation Army prescription vouchers and telephone health and welfare check-ups for residents of Northern Whidbey Island.

This was the first fundraiser that Machinists at NAS Whidbey have organized. The union represents hourly workers at defense contractors L-3 Communications and Delaware Resources Group.

“It was a great turnout with impressive results,” said District 751 Business Rep Jon Holden. “I hope everyone will come back next year and bring others, so we can make it even bigger.”

Originally formed in 1935 to represent hourly workers at the Boeing Co., District Lodge 751 of theInternational Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers now represents some 33,000 working men and women at 49 employers across Washington, Oregon and California. In 2012, union volunteers gave more than 10,500 hours of community service while also raising a record $299,000 for Guide Dogs of America.

To learn more about District 751, follow the Machinists News.